By Mark Cowan
Birmingham Mail
February 11, 2009
http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top-stories/2009/02/11/ former-midland-priest-faces-extradition-from-us-over-allegations-of-child-sex-abuse-97319-22904050/
A FORMER Midland priest faces extradition from California over allegations of historic child sex abuse stretching back more than two decades ago.
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Fr James Robinson, who worked across Birmingham, the Black Country, Sutton Coldfield and Coventry in the 70s and 80s, was arrested by US marshals in the city of Duarte, in Los Angeles County on January 26.
The US authorities were acting on a request from police and prosecutors in the West Midlands to extradite the 71-year-old back to the UK in relation to "historic sexual offence allegations".
Fr Robinson moved to the US in 1985, amid allegations he abused boys while training at Oscott College, Sutton Coldfield, as parish priest at St Elizabeth's in Foleshill, and then at the Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Cradley Heath.
He was defrocked eight years later after the then Archbishop of Birmingham, the Most Reverend Maurice Couve de Murville, wrote to US church leaders.
Five people from Coventry and Birmingham have previously complained to police about Robinson. At least two men from Coventry have claimed they were sexually abused as boys by Fr Robinson. They were later given compensation by the archdiocese of about £25,000.
Details of Robinson's arrest only emerged today after they had been informed of the breakthrough. Robinson has previously denied any wrongdoing.
A West Midlands Police spokesman said: "We can confirm that a 71-year-old man was arrested by US authorities on Monday January 26 in California.
"This was in relation to an extradition request by West Midlands Police and Crown Prosecution Service in relation to historic sexual offence allegations.
"The case is currently being handled by the US authorities who will progress the extradition. We remain in contact with them on a daily basis."
According to reports in America, Robinson was arrested under an extradition treaty between the US Britain and Northern Ireland.
The Los Angeles Times reported that the arrest warrant filed in federal court in Los Angeles stated that the charges stemmed from "a chain of sexual abuse starting in approximately 1959 and continuing for decades, even after Robinson was ordained as a priest in 1971".
In 2003, Robinson was found working as the caretaker at a trailer park in Los Angeles and confronted by one of his alleged victims as part of a TV documentary.
The married man came face-to-face with the former priest and demanded an apology but Robinson denied any wrong-doing and ordered him off his property.
At the time, police were prevented from seeking his extradition because California had no treaty with the UK. This latest move follows a change in the law allowing extradition.
Three years ago, the Archbishop of Birmingham, the Most Rev Vincent Nichols, wrote to Robinson pleading with him to return to Britain and face the allegations surrounding him.
But Robinson e-mailed back denying he did anything wrong and saying he had no intention of returning to Britain.
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