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Luton vicar James Ogley sacked by the church after child sex offences conviction
Luton on Sunday
LUTON vicar James Ogley, who was convicted of child sex offences in October, has been sacked by the Church of England. Today, The Bishop of St Albans, the Rt Revd Dr Alan Smith, finalised steps to remove James Ogley from office and prohibit him from exercising any ministry as a priest in the Church of England for the rest of his life The Diocese of St Albans said it was the ‘maximum penalty’ that could be imposed. Ogley is currently serving a two year prison sentence as a result of the conviction. On his arrest in January 2013, Ogley was suspended from exercising any of the functions of a priest. The penalty follows James Ogley’s conviction on 30 September for nine offences under the Obscene Publications Act 1959. James Ogley was jailed for 2 years for these offences. The Church’s disciplinary process begins automatically on conviction of a criminal offence involving a custodial sentence. The Bishop said: “I was deeply shocked and saddened by hearing about James Ogley’s actions in chat-rooms. I feel deep sorrow and shame that one of my priests should have done such terribly wrong things. My prayers continue to be with anyone harmed by him. “Very soon after his sentencing in the Crown Court, I was quite clear in my own mind that the appropriate penalty was prohibition from office for life. Now that the legal process has come to its conclusion, I am able to make the penalty to be imposed, known. “It is vitally important, especially in cases such as these, that the required legal process is followed to guarantee a safe, certain and unchallengeable result.”
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