Church and Police React to Guilty Verdict, Uttoxeter Advertiser, November 4, 2010

Church and Police React to Guilty Verdict

Uttoxeter Advertiser
November 4, 2010

http://www.uttoxeteradvertiser.co.uk/News/Church-and-police-react-to-guilty-verdict.htm

THE Diocese of Lichfield has said that the protection of children is a 'top priority' for the Church of England after one of its vicar's was found guilty of downloading child pornography.

A spokesman for the Diocese also criticised Marchington Vicar Dominic Stone's lack of cooperation with police during the investigation.

Following the verdicts, Gavin Drake, the director of communications for the Bishop and Diocese of Lichfield who was at the court during the trial, said: "The downloading and viewing of indecent images of children is a very serious offence which not only depicts, but also feeds, the actual physical abuse of innocent children.

"The protection of children is a top priority for the Lichfield Diocese and the Church of England as a whole; and after being informed of the police investigation in January 2009 Dominic Stone was removed from duties and then suspended in accordance with the Clergy Discipline Measure and Rules.

"Following today's conviction the Bishop of Lichfield will follow the procedures laid down in law and await the sentence before considering the removal of Dominic Stone from his current position and prohibition of serving as a priest. Dominic Stone's suspension continues until the conclusion of this process.

"During the trial Dominic Stone repeatedly said that somebody else had downloaded the images but that it was not his responsibility to find out who was responsible.

"The Diocese of Lichfield would like to make clear that it expects all clergy to co-operate fully with police investigations into child abuse so that justice can be delivered to the victims of this appalling crime.

"The parishes of Marchington, Marchington Woodlands, Kingstone and Leigh have been without their Team Vicar for some 21 months during the investigation and the lengthy legal process leading to today's conviction.

"The clergy, lay leadership team and parishioners of the Uttoxeter Area Team Ministry should be congratulated for the way they have handled the additional workload and difficulties during this time.

"We continue to pray for them, for the police and all those who work in the criminal justice system and particularly for both child and adult victims of sexual abuse in all its forms."

DC Rob Hadgett, from Burton CID, said after the trial that the crimes Stone was convicted of were 'abhorrent'.

He said: "Dominic Stone was a well-known and popular member of the local community who held a position of trust and influence. His standing made the crimes he committed even more abhorrent.

"Every one of the hundreds of images he downloaded represented a child victim of sexual abuse. Following his arrest last year, and the charges that followed, Stone refused to admit his guilt or shoulder the blame for his offences - despite the overwhelming evidence against him.

"Staffordshire Police is committed to protecting vulnerable people and investigating such crime. Our detectives carried out a thorough inquiry, liaising with the Crown Prosecution Service and the Church of England, which resulted in Stone's conviction at trial."