A bishop who has previously been embroiled in a sex abuse scandal has said he will sue a new complainant for slander and defamation.

Bishop Roger Vangheluwe of Bruges, Belgium resigned in 2010 following revelations that he had sexually abused his own nephew. Now he faces fresh allegations from a 36-year-old man, Michael, who claims to have been “rented” for eight years as a child, especially to clergymen.

Michael, who has a criminal and drug history, has had psychiatric treatment and has spent time in prison, alleges that he was abused from the age of five.