Former Newcastle Priest Jailed for 17 Years for Historic Sex Abuse

By Katie Dickinson
Chronicle Live
April 13, 2017

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/former-newcastle-priest-jailed-17-12892889

A Catholic priest from Newcastle has been jailed for 17 years for repeatedly sexually abusing a teenage boy while working as a teacher in the 1970s.

A church spokesman for the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle has issued an apology to the victim after Father Michael Higginbottom was sentenced for the abuse, which happened when he worked at St Joseph’s College in Upholland, Lancashire.

The 74-year-old of West Farm Road, Newcastle, had denied four counts of buggery and four counts of indecent assault but was found guilty after a trial.

Liverpool Crown Court heard his victim attended the seminary, for boys who wanted to become priests, for six months when he was aged between 13 and 14.