By Jordanna Schriever
Adelaide Now
February 2, 2011
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/repeat-paedophile-priest-jailed-for-third-time/story-e6frea83-1225998751595
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| Former Anglican priest Wilfred Edwin Dennis will serve another nine years in jail for sexually assaulting altar boys and could die in prison. |
A PAEDOPHILE ex-Anglican priest could die in prison after being jailed for the third time.
Wilfred Edwin Dennis, 75, was jailed for nine years by the District Court for a string of offences committed in the 1970s against members of a northern suburbs church youth group which he had organised.
At the time the boys were aged between 14-16, while Dennis was aged in his early 40s and had already served a jail term for similar offences against alter boys.
In sentencing, Judge Paul Rice said it was unclear how the church came to the conclusion Dennis should be reinstated in the ministry.
"Somehow you were seen as rehabilitated but clearly you were not," Judge Rice said.
"How the church hierarchy managed to get to that position is unclear."
Last year, Dennis was jailed for 20 months for offences against alter boys in his car, which occurred between 1975-77.
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Judge Rice said Dennis was eligible to be declared a serious repeat offender.
"In my view you qualify for that declaration and I have considered making it, but decline to do so," he said today.
He said the victims were in Dennis' care and protection for spiritual guidance, "not to be preyed upon or abused".
"Their feelings of guilt and shame which caused psychological and emotional trauma have been part of their daily lives ever since," he said.
"You breached their trust, that of their parents and the Anglican Church."
Judge Rice said Dennis had deteriorating health, including heart problems and suffered black outs and fainting spells.
"A lengthy sentence may not see you released from prison," he said.
He extended Dennis' non-parole period to six years.
Dennis will be aged 80 before he will be eligible for parole.
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