Merseyside Priest Charged with Sexual Offences Involving Teenage Boy

By Liam Murphy
Wirral News
May 15, 2012

http://www.wirralnews.co.uk/wirral-news/local-wirral-news/2012/05/15/merseyside-priest-charged-with-sexual-offences-involving-teenage-boy-100252-30969692/

A MERSEYSIDE priest has been charged with having sex with an underage teenage boy.

Father Peter Hooper from St Luke's in Bebington, Wirral, appeared in court facing three charges of sexual activity with a child.

All three offences are alleged to have taken place at the St Luke the Physician diocese house in Church Road, Bebington, where regular masses are held in a small chapel.

The charges date back over an 11-month period starting in June last year, when the alleged victim was aged 14, and up to the start of this month.

The 55-year-old priest, who appeared at Wirral magistrates court, was said to be of no fixed abode and made no application for bail. He has been remanded in custody.

A spokeswoman for Shrewsbury Diocese said: "The Diocese of Shrewsbury can confirm that a priest within the diocese has been charged in connection with offences against a minor.

"The priest has been withdrawn from all ministry in line with procedures.

"The diocese is co-operating fully with the statutory agencies involved and is totally committed and in compliance with all the appropriate safeguarding requirements.

"The diocese is unable to comment further at this time for legal reasons."

The Bishop of Shrewsbury Mark Davies was sent to the parish of St Luke's to celebrate mass this weekend.

Merseyside police said in a statement they "can confirm that Peter James Hooper has been charged with three counts of sexual activity with a child".

The statement added: "The 54-year-old from Church Road, Bebington, was charged on Tuesday May 8 and appeared in Wirral magistrates court in Birkenhead on May 9.

"He was remanded in custody to appear in court again on May 23."

Father Hooper's parish includes the districts of Lower Bebington, Spital, Poulton Lancelyn, Clatterbridge, Thornton Hough and Brimstage. He was appointed priest there in 2006 after leaving St Werburgh's in Chester.