Oxford Mail [United Kingdom]
March 22, 2007
http://oxfordmail.net/mostpopular.var.1276882.mostviewed.sex_case_vicar_left_cassock_on.php
A vicar accused of sexually abusing an 11-year-old church assistant left his cassock on to rape the boy after a service, a court heard.
Father Edward Michael Wright, 69, repeatedly abused the schoolboy more than 30 years ago, jurors have heard.
Wright, the vicar of St Barnabas Church, in Jericho, Oxford, since 1980, was also allegedly involved in a group rape attack involving a number of men.
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| Father Edward Michael Wright |
The Edinburgh-born clergyman denies the catalogue of sex charges said to have occurred at St Stephen's Church in Lewisham, London, in the 1970s.
The victim, now 44, told how Father Wright got him dizzy on coffee liqueur before he and at least one other man raped him in front of other boys.
He said: "They were white middle-aged men. Father Wright introduced me to them - about four men. They said what a nice boy I was.
"I was given coffee liqueur to drink so I was quite tipsy."
He said he was then raped by more than one man, including Wright.
He added: "That kind of thing happened at least three times.
"Father Wright wore a cassock - he didn't remove it during the sex act."
The man, who cannot be identified, told the court he felt "ashamed and embarrassed".
He added: "I had nightmares. I had nervous symptoms, pains in my stomach, not being able to eat properly, not being able to sleep properly.
"I just couldn't create good relationships with people because of the distrust I felt. I stopped attending school. I stopped going to church."
Now married, the man told how he took eight years to confide in his wife.
In 1999 he felt strong enough to approach the church to confront his alleged abuser, he said.
"I just wanted to ask Father Wright why he did this to me," he said.
By that time Wright had moved to Oxford, and claimed through another clergyman he had "no recollection" of the boy.
The alleged victim went to the police a year later.
The court has heard the abuse developed from horseplay to fondling and more serious forms of assault.
The vicar allegedly made the boy perform a sex act upon him when he was 11.
Wright, whose address is given as the vicarage at St Barnabas Church, denies six counts of rape and six of indecent assault in the 1970s.
The trial continues.
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