A former Army chaplain at the centre of a sex scandal has told how a new wife has helped him rebuild his shattered life.

The Rev Richard Landall, 42, from Shipley, was cleared of allegations of indecent assault against a soldier's wife after a court martial last year.

But his life was in ruins and his Army career at an end - until he met 26-year-old Leeds nurse Pixy Bray and got a new job as a team vicar on a Guildford council estate.

The pair, who met at a business meeting after the tribunal, were married at a private ceremony in Nidd, North Yorkshire, in April.

Pixy is expected to join him in the parish of St Clare's when her training finishes in August.

The wedding ended a traumatic three years for Mr Landall and his family, of Kirkgate, Shipley, which started when his first wife left him and both parents suffered heart attacks while he was serving in Bosnia in 1997.

There he witnessed 18 other marriage break-ups, 11 suicides and saw two civilians lose their legs after stepping on land mines. Then he returned to Britain and the court martial.

"I thought you can't get much lower than that," he said. "I started picking up straight away after meeting Pixy.

"We got on brilliantly, like a house on fire. She has got a really lovely personality, very bubbly and bright.

"It's been a long time in coming and very painful in the process, but I am very happy. I have got a new life, new wife and new job and I'm very happy with it."

His father, Gordon Landall, said the family was still getting to know Pixy but that she seemed to be giving him "plenty of TLC".

He added: "We are delighted he is getting a new parish post and we feel this is a new chapter in his life."

Mr Landall admitted that the publicity surrounding the court martial made it difficult for him to find work.

"There are several bishops who were extremely unhelpful. They didn't want to know me. As soon as I mentioned the court martial, it was all shut down to me again," he said.

"It was a matter of finding a bishop who would stand by me."

Finally he found the Right Reverend John Gladwin, Bishop of Guildford, who gave him the parish of St Clare's Church on a council estate in Guildford. The job officially starts on May 24.

Mr Landall said: "It's got a bad reputation outside but it doesn't deserve that reputation. It's a very nice place and the parishioners have made me very welcome."

He said the leaders of the church knew of the court martial but most of the church-goers were unaware.

"I will discuss it with parishioners as and when they want to discuss it.

"I am not ashamed or hiding from it. I know it was totally unfair and wrong. My conscience is clear before man and God."

A spokesman for the Bishop of Guildford said: "The diocese is aware of the court martial and is also aware that Mr Landall was cleared of the charges. We all wish him well for the future."

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