Former Bishop of Truro Spokesman Jeremy Dowling Pleads Guilty to Sexually Assaulting Five Young Boys

West Briton
June 5, 2015

http://www.westbriton.co.uk/Bishop-Truro-spokesman-Jeremy-Dowling-pleads/story-26642332-detail/story.html

Jeremy Dowling

THE FORMER communications chief for the Bishop of Truro is facing jail after pleading guilty to sexual offences against five young boys.

At Truro Crown Court on Friday, Jeremy Dowling, 76, of Church Path, Bude, admitted 15 counts of sexually abusing the boys, who cannot be named for legal reasons, between 1959 and 1971.

The pensioner retired as communications officer for the Truro Diocese in 2009, having worked for several bishops over the previous 25 years.

He was also a governor at Budehaven School for 18 years, before stepping down in 2013.

Dowling admitted four counts of indecently assault one boy aged under-13, including at a cricket match and in an outside toilet.

In relation to a second boy, who was aged under-14 at the time of the offences, he pleaded guilty to two counts of indecency with a child and two of indecent assault.

He admitted three counts of indecent assault, including two in storage rooms, on a third underage boy and two counts of indecent assault in relation to a fourth.

The fifth victim was aged just 12 and 13 when Dowling, who admitted three counts of indecent assault on that boy, touched him inappropriately.

Dowling would have been aged between 21 and 32 at the time of the offences.

The case was adjourned for the preparation of a pre-sentence report on Dowling by the probation service.

He was granted conditional bail to appear before the court for sentence on July 10.