Jail for Pervert Priest, Wigan Today, October 2, 2008

Jail for Pervert Priest

Wigan Today

October 2, 2008

http://www.wigantoday.net/wigannews/Jail-for-pervert-priest.4550769.jp

A priest who sexually abused boys at a Catholic boarding school has been jailed.

William Green, the former cleric at Holy Family RC Church in New Springs, Wigan, assaulted six pupils aged 11 to 15 while working as a religious education teacher at St Bede's Boys' School in Whalley Range, Manchester, between 1975 and 1987.

He had pleaded guilty to 27 charges of sexual assault at a previous hearing.

Jailing Green, of Cale Lane, Aspull, for six years the Manchester Crown Court judge accused him of "depraved behaviour."

The court was told Green abused lonely and vulnerable boys hundreds of times. He presented himself as a friendly father figure who won his victims' trust by offering them privileges and treats of tea, sweets, cigarettes and television in his room, Alaric Bassano, prosecuting, told the court.

PLOY: William Green presented himself as a friendly father figure to his lonely and vulnerable victims

He said the sexual abuse followed a similar pattern in all cases: games of wrestling progressed to indecent acts.

Green also assaulted an eight-year-old boy at St Margaret Mary's Junior School, Moston, in 1968, where he also worked as a teacher before joining the priesthood.

The court heard Green's victims later suffered from depression and anxiety and one victim had attempted suicide as a result of the abuse.

A police investigation was launched after one victim came forward with allegations at the end of last year.

Inquiries by the public protection investigation unit then uncovered to further victims.

Passing sentence, Judge Goldstone QC said: ""I have been invited to temper justice with mercy, but my principle duty is to punish you and deter others in positions of trust or authority from behaving similarly.

"Your remorse is genuine but it is a pity that you showed no mercy to your victims while you were abusing them.''