Paedophile Victim Speaks out As Quedgeley Former Priest Admits Further Charge

The Citizen
July 16, 2013

http://www.gloucestercitizen.co.uk/Paedophile-victim-speaks-Quedgeley-priest-admits/story-19524016-detail/story.html

A PAEDOPHILE former priest, who lives in Gloucester, has admitted further charges of sexually molesting an underage boy in the 1980s.

Malcolm McLennan, who lives in Quedgeley, appeared at Medway Magistrates' Court in Kent last Monday.

The 69-year-old admitted indecent assault against a minor and was released on bail until his sentencing at crown court.

His victim, now in his 30s and with a family, said he felt 'sick' when he discovered McLennan was living near children in the cul-de-sac.

The man, who can not be identified for legal reasons, said: "I'm just disgusted he can be back out living a normal life. It's obviously quite upsetting with everything that's happened. It filled me with terror to know children could be playing in the vicinity of a convicted paedophile."

He was assaulted by the Catholic priest, known as Father Frederick Malcolm McLennan, between December 1987 and January 1989.

He touched the teenager intimately while he was changing into his altar boy robes at St Simon Stock Church in Walderslade in Chatham. His victim said he finally reported his attacker to police following the Jimmy Savile scandal.

McLennan already has convictions dating back to the 1970s for indecency involving having sex with men in public toilets.

In 2009 he admitted indecent assaults involving three boys at another church and was jailed for 18 months and placed on the sex offenders' register for 10 years.

He was removed from public ministry in 1989 at the time of his conviction for gross indecency and formerly stripped of the priesthood in 2011. County councillor Barry Kirby (L, Grange and Kingsway) said: "While this gentleman has a long history of this type of offence, the residents of Quedgeley can hope to be reassured he will receive a just sentence."

Known sex offenders released back into the community are monitored by the probation service and police and regular visits are made to check on them.