Police have confirmed that the international director of Christian charity the Barnabas Fund has been charged with sexual assault on a female.

Dr Patrick Sookhedo, 67, was arrested in March and police have now confirmed that he has been charged. He has been released on police bail and is due to appear at Swindon Magistrates court on May 29.

The Independent has reported that a spokesperson for Sookhedo said that he strongly denies the allegations made against him but is co-operating with the relevant authorities.  

A spokeswoman from the Charity Commission said they have contacted the charity.

She said: “We are aware of an employee of the charity being charged with sexual assault. This is principally a police matter over which we have no jurisdiction, but we have contacted the charity to determine what it is doing from a governance point of view in managing this serious situation as we may give advice as appropriate.”

She added that if the allegations relate to activities associated with the charity, then the trustees have a duty to “formally file a serious incident report to the Charity Commission detailing their actions in managing the situation”.

However it is up to the trustees to decide whether to take any action with regard to the individual, and what action to take.

A spokesman for the charity said: “Dr Patrick Sookhdeo is currently on sabbatical leave, an arrangement which was initiated by him in March 2013 and agreed by all relevant parties.

“Our policy is to deal with matters such as this in a confidential and discreet manner, partly for the protection of all those involved and partly to allow justice to take its course. Accordingly, I am unable to provide you with any information about the complainant in this case.”

He said that the Charity Commission has been informed of all developments concerning Sookhdeo.

Sookhedo, who in 2003 advised the British Army on Iraq, describes himself as a social activist for individual rights. His website stated that he “has always argued passionately for social justice. This includes the freedom of every individual to choose or reject a religion, the rights of women to full equality, and the rights of minorities not to be discriminated against.”

Barnabas Fund sends financial support to projects which help Christians where they suffer discrimination, oppressions and persecution as a consequence of their faith.