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	Jailed Child Pervert Priest Ruined My Life By Michael Russell Ealing Gazette October 9, 2009 http://www.ealinggazette.co.uk/ealing-news/local-ealing-news/2009/10/09/jailed-child-pervert-priest-ruined-my-life-64767-24893070/ THE VICTIM of a child-abusing priest has spoken of how his life has been devastated. The 27-year-old, who asked to remain anonymous, was molested by Father David Pearce at the age of nine. Too young to realise what was happening, the pain only manifested later, sparking bouts of rage and causing him to 'go off the rails'. Fr Pearce, of Ealing Abbey, in Charlbury Grove, was jailed on Friday for eight years for 10 counts of indecent assault and one sexual assault committed against boys between 1972 and 2007. Hearing the sentence, the victim, formerly of Greenford and whose case never came to trial, said: "It's the best piece of news I've heard in a long time. "You try and forget about it, but even now just thinking about it makes me angry. "It has dictated my life. Once you've felt that vulnerable you want to make sure nothing like that ever happens to you again. He was in such a position of trust and my father worked so hard for the school fees, it makes me sick." Pearce, 67, preyed on pupils while headmaster of St Benedict's lower school in Eaton Rise, Ealing. When the victim told his family about the incident in 1990, Fr Pearce claimed he was checking for marks in case his father had been hitting him. The spotlight was turned on the family for weeks until social services established his relatives were blameless. The victim's father began building a case against Pearce, causing him to step down from his post. Yet he was still allowed to remain at the school as an administrator. But the victim's father died of a brain tumour in 1994, two days before his son's 13th birthday and his wife did not feel strong enough to pursue it. She tried going to the abbey for help, but says she was turned away. She said her son's life was shattered, he became violent, ran away from home, and committed violent crime, leading to a four year jail term for threatening a probation officer. Now living in Seaford, Sussex, the victim's mother said: "He used to be such an outgoing boy, but Father David completely changed him, he became inward, untrusting and angry." Isleworth Crown Court was told a case was brought against him by a victim in 2004, but was dropped because of lack of evidence. The same victim went on to win a civil action and Fr Pearce was put on restricted duties by the Westminster Diocese, but this did not stop further abuse. He was arrested in February last year and admitted the 11 charges earlier this year. Abbot Martin Shipperlee, of Ealing Abbey, said an independent review will be launched to stop abuses happening in the future and Fr Pearce's future as a priest will be reviewed. He pointed out police and social services were involved in the 1990 victim's case, explaining why the abbey could not discuss the matter at the time. He added: "His exploitation of the most vulnerable was brought to an end by the courage of those of his victims who came forward and revealed what had been happening."
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