Alan Smithson

He was educated at Bradford Grammar School and Queen's College, Oxford (he gained an Oxford Master of Arts and a Diploma in Theology before embarking on an ecclesiastical career with a curacy at Christ Church, Skipton[4] after which he was Chaplain at his old college.

In 1998, he contributed to the defence in a court case where the accused was Michael Golightly, a priest on a charge of attempted murder against his wife Enid.

Enid was subjected to an attack with a hammer to the side of her head whilst asleep, and was left for some hours by Golightly with a severe brain injury.

During the trial he stated that the accused was an upstanding clergyman and it was not in his nature to carry out such an act; his submission was opposed by Enid Golightly's family.

Michael Golightly was sentenced to five years' imprisonment[7] for causing grievous bodily harm with intent.