UNITED KINGDOM
This is the West Country
A former communications chief for the Bishop of Truro found guilty of historic child sex abuse has been sentenced to seven years in prison.
Jeremy Dowling, 77, from Bude, who was the Diocese of Truro’s communications officer for 25 years, was charged with 15 counts of indecently assaulting a boy under the age of 16 after five former pupils came forward to police to complain that they were victims of sexual abuse.
Most of the incidents happened at a private school in Bude where Dowling lived for most of his time as a teacher and senior member of staff at a private boarding school in Bude between 1959 and 1971, and at the time of the offences all the victims were aged between 10 and 13.
Numerous witnesses, including former pupils and members of the school, came forward to provide evidence about the abuse.
Detective Constable Grant Mills, Launceston CID, said: “Dowling selected and groomed his victims prior to the abuse starting and subjected them to a prolonged and distressing period of abuse.
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