January 17, 2005

Priest Caught with Child Porn Spared Jail Term

BRITAIN
Scotsman

By Simon Evans, PA

A Roman Catholic priest who was spotted by a train passenger looking at child porn on his laptop computer was spared a jail sentence today.

Alexander Bede Walsh, 51, former priest at St John The Evangelist church, Banbury, in Oxfordshire, was spotted by a passenger on a train looking at a “depraved” fantasy story, Oxford Crown Court heard.

He later admitted 18 counts of making indecent pictures and one of possessing them. All the offences related to a two to three week period in March last year.

Imposing a two-year community rehabilitation order, Judge Julian Hall credited Walsh as an “intelligent” and “thoughtful” man, adding: “Your offending lies right at the bottom end of the scale.

“It is the more shocking because of your position, but that is not a reason for a more severe punishment.”

Posted by kshaw at January 17, 2005 07:07 AM