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	Former Coventry Priest Wrote to Altar Boy He Is Accused of Abusing, Court Hears By Emma Stone Coventry Telegraph October 15, 2010 http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/2010/10/15/former-coventry-priest-wrote-to-altar-boy-he-is-accused-of-abusing-court-hears-92746-27478189/ A LETTER allegedly written by a former Coventry priest to a teenage altar boy he is accused of abusing was read out at court. The trial of Richard James Robinson at Birmingham Crown Court was told the letter was written by the former clergyman in the 1980s after he had moved on to another parish. The recipient of the letter – now 42 – told the trial it was sent following more than two years of abuse at the hands of Robinson. The man, who cannot be identified, claims the former priest regularly abused him from the age of 11, while he served at St Elizabeth's Church in St Elizabeth's Road, Foleshill. In his evidence – reported in yesterday's Telegraph – the alleged victim told the court the abuse began after he was invited to the presbytery at the city church and continued for more than two years. He told the trial the alleged abuse was coupled with gifts, days out and holidays, including a two-week stay in California. The former altar boy told the jury he cut all contact with Robinson when the former priest moved, but Robinson continued to try and maintain contact with the then 14-year-old. A letter allegedly written by Robinson was read out at Birmingham Crown Court. An extract read: "I thought you had finished with me. There has been no phone call for three months. It's easier for you to call, especially as I'm not around. "You must keep in contact... Write a letter and say what you want to say. "You must make a special effort and not forget me. You have to do this if you still think anything of me." Robinson, known to many as Jim or Jimmy, denies 22 counts of sexual abuse. Last year he was extradited from California to face the charges. The charges relate to four alleged victims between the late 1950s and the mid-80s – before and during Robinson's time as a Catholic priest. Robinson served at a number of churches in the Midlands area, including St Elizabeth's during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Asked why he did not report the abuse claims until 1999, the alleged victim said: "At the time I was generally frightened, I didn't think anybody would believe me, because of how everybody spoke of him. "Nobody had a negative word to say about him. "When he left the church everybody was saddened by it because of the difference he had made to the church – he had made it a brighter place. "He was also close to my aunty, They had a strong friendship. I didn't think anyone would believe me."
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