A Catholic priest who crashed his car while almost three-times over the drink-drive limit has said he committed a shameful and wicked act.

Father Bede Rowe, who has been at St George’s Catholic Church in Boreham Road, Warminster, for foura-nd-a-half years, now faces a magistrates court hearing after being charged with drink-driving.

The 39-year-old priest crashed into railings outside the Tattoo Man in the town’s High Street, in the early hours of May 16, but tried to drive off, coming to a halt 400 metres along the road after his tyre fell off. The crash was caught on CCTV cameras.

After his arrest, Father Rowe spent the night in police cells in Melksham and missed Mass the next morning.

He admitted his future is now in doubt, despite his heartfelt apologies to the Bishop of Clifton and his parishoners, who he confessed the incident to by personal letter.

He said: “I find myself having done the most extraordinary bad thing and it just turns everything upside down, but it’s at times like these you realise the support and care of others.

“I have to deal with my conscience, my contrition, my shame and concerns from my parishioners and I will do whatever I can to become a better man and a better priest. It’s up to the bishop whether I stay.

Father Rowe said he had been drinking wine at a parishioner’s house in Frome Road on the night of the crash and admitted the incident itself was ‘a blur’.

“I was having supper and drinking wine with the meal,” he said.

“I drove my car with no intention of driving it back. I said I would get a taxi, but then I didn’t need to because another parishioner came and gave me a lift back.

“When I got back to my house I realised I had left my house keys in the car, so I walked back and then for some reason, which is still quite beyond me, I got into the car and drove back.

“I was more than double over the limit – just below three times.”

His position as governor of St George’s Catholic School in Woodcock Road, is also in jeopardy, but he thanked the governors and staff for their understanding.

He said: “I wanted to let as many people know as possible – they need to know from me.

“There’s no point brushing this under the carpet.”

Father Rowe will appear before Chippenham magistrates on June 3 to face the drink-drive charge.

The Bishop of Clifton has said Father Bede Rowe will have to face the consequences of his actions after being charged with drink-driving.

The Right Rev Declan Lang did not comment on Father Rowe’s future, but said: “He acknowledges that he was in the wrong and makes no excuse for his very foolish action, as he has made clear to parishioners at St George’s.

“He is now facing the consequences of what he has done and is clearly very sorry for what has happened.”

For Father Bede Rowe's letter to the congregation and his full reaction see this week's Wiltshire Times.