Ipswich Priest Haley Dossor's Sex Abuse of Boys

BBC News
October 17, 2012

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-19978868

Father Haley Dossor retired in 2007

A retired priest from Suffolk has admitted he carried out several sex assaults on teenage boys.

Father Haley Dossor, 71, of Kirton near Felixstowe, pleaded guilty at Ipswich Crown Court to six charges of indecent assault against boys aged 13 to 17.

He retired as a priest at St Mary-at-the-Elms church, Ipswich in 2007. The abuse happened between 1990 and 2004.

Dossor is due to be sentenced some time after 12 November and the judge warned him he could face prison.

Dossor pleaded not guilty to a further nine charges, and the Crown Prosecution Service said it would not proceed with these counts.

'Broken trust'

Charles Myatt, for the prosecution, told the court: "Given the pleas already entered and following discussions with the victims, it has been decided a trial would not be in the public interest."

Dossor has been remanded on bail while awaiting sentence at Norwich Crown Court.

The Bishop of St Edmundsbury, the Right Reverend Nigel Stock, said: "Clergy hold a position of trust and whenever such trust is broken it is widely felt, most of all by those who have been directly affected.

"The Church has learnt much over the years and has in place very high standards of safeguarding in this diocese, which I am sure both the police and the local authority will endorse.

"Whilst these events took place a long time ago, it is only right that the Church should acknowledge the broken trust and offer sincere and deep apologies."