Priest Victim Wins Jail Plea

The Lancaster Guardian
December 18, 2013

http://www.lancasterguardian.co.uk/news/crime/priest-victim-wins-jail-plea-1-6321652

Stephen Shield

A priest jailed for sexual abuse could face more prison time after his victim demanded a review of his sentence.

Canon Stephen Shield, 53, of Balmoral Road, Lancaster, was found guilty last month of three counts of indecent assault following a trial at Preston Crown Court and was jailed for 12 months.

But his victim says the sentence was unduly lenient and has requested a review by the attorney general.

The attorney general’s office has until January 10 to decide whether the case should come under review.

Under the pseudonym Icare, the victim said: “I find it belittling to the many victims of such absolutely horrific criminality that such nonsensical sentences are handed out.

“The Roman Catholic church in the UK and the Criminal justice system must do a whole lot better on this issue as survivors of abuse live with the horror every single day.”

The three historic allegations related to one male victim aged between 17-24 years. The offences were committed between 1985 and 1992.

Detective Sgt Alex Gornall, of Lancashire Constabulary’s Public Protection Unit, said: “I am pleased with the sentence. The victim in this case had lived with the knowledge of Mr Shield’s offending for a long period of time; this has had a significant impact upon him and I just hope that this provides some sort of closure and that he can move on with the rest of his life.

“It was a difficult decision for the victim to come forward and I am pleased that he felt confident enough in the Constabulary to help bring this man to justice.

“The fact that these convictions come a long time after they were committed shows that we will always take any allegations of sexual abuse extremely seriously and will investigate them thoroughly no matter how long ago they happened.

“I would encourage people with any information about sexual abuse or who has been a victim of sexual abuse to come forward and report their concerns confident in the knowledge it will be investigated appropriately and with sensitivity.”