The Charity Commission has said it has “ongoing serious concerns” about a religious charity accused of organising a meeting where a convicted paedophile was allowed to interrogate his victims.

The Manchester Evening News reported that Jonathan Rose, 40, a Jehovah’s Witness elder of New Moston, Manchester, was jailed for nine months for abusing two women when they were young girls.

The paper reported that after his release the Manchester New Moston Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses conducted a series of “disfellowship” meetings to decide whether Rose should remain a member of the organisation, in which the women were required to recount their ordeal. At one meeting, Rose was present and allowed to ask questions.

“We have ongoing serious concerns about the Manchester New Moston Congregation of Jehova’s Witnesses in connection with its policies and procedures for the protection of vulnerable beneficiaries,” a Charity Commission spokeswoman said. “We are engaging with the charity’s trustees about our concerns.

“We cannot comment further at this stage.”

Comments have been disabled on this story.