Ipswich/kirton/hadleigh: Retired Priest to Be Sentenced over Historic Child Sex Charges

Eadt 24
December 17, 2012

http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/ipswich_kirton_hadleigh_retired_priest_to_be_sentenced_over_historic_child_sex_charges_1_1743794

Haley Dossor at Ipswich Crown Court

Father John Haley Dossor is scheduled to be sentence today at Norwich Crown Court.

He was previously due to be sentenced last month, however the case was adjourned for administrative reasons.

Dossor, of Kirton, near Felixstowe, abused two males, who were aged between 13 and 17, during assaults dating back 20 years, when he was based at St Mary’s Church in Hadleigh.

After leaving the parish of Hadleigh, Shelley, and Layham in 2001, Dossor became one of Ipswich’s most prominent clergymen when he moved to St Mary at the Elms, in Elm Street. He officially retired as priest-in-charge in January 2007.

The 71-year-old’s guilty pleas to six indecent assaults were accepted by the prosecution at a hearing before Ipswich Crown Court in October.

The High Church Anglican priest denied a further eight indecent assaults – one of which was on a third male, and another charge of sexual assault by touching. These will not be pursued, but will lay on file.