LONDON (ENGLAND)
The Sun
Parish Predator: Mum abused by her local priest as a child is still haunted by his smell… and it’s ruined her relationships and career
September 27, 2017
Jo Woods, now 45, from Leeds, kept her abuse a secret until 2013 and only came forward after the Jimmy Saville abuse scandal broke – hoping that perhaps she might be believed at last
By Hayley Richardson and Ann Cusack
A mum who was abused as a child by her local parish priest has revealed how the smell of him still haunts her now, ruining her relationships and her career.
Jo Woods, now 45, from Leeds, was preyed on by Father Damien Webb, a Roman Catholic priest, between the ages of six and eight.
* * *
A spokesman for Ampleforth said: “In December 2014, representatives of Ampleforth Abbey were present at all masses in the parish of St Benedict’s, Garforth, in the Diocese of Leeds, where they told parishioners that a woman had come forward regarding allegations of sexual abuse by a monk, Fr Damian Webb OSB, during the time he worked in the parish from 1973-1983.
“He died in 1990. Others were invited to come forward if they had experienced similar issues with independent support offered by a charity at the time.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.