READING (UNITED KINGDOM)
BerkshireLive [Reading, Berkshire, UK]
October 19, 2023
By Richard Lemmer
The alleged sexual abuse took place during the 1970s and 1980s, a court has heard
A West Berkshire GP committed “intensely terrifying” sexual abuse on a young boy in the 1970s and 1980s – before allegedly making a confession to a monk years later, Reading Crown Court has heard. Dr Robin Borthwick, 78, is accused of historic sexual abuse, facing four counts of indecent assault on a boy under the age of 16, who cannot be named for legal reasons.
Dr Borthwick has been deemed unfit to stand trial due to his health and is absent from the trial of facts at the crown court, the jury were told as the case proceeded on Thursday. The court heard that Dr Borthwick allegedly sexually abused the boy at a GP surgery and in two other locations during the 1970s and 1980s.
Taking to the witness stand on Thursday (October 19) as an adult, the defendant described crying himself to sleep on multiple occasions after Dr Borthwick allegedly “inspected” and “fondled” his genitals when the pair were alone. On one occasion, Dr Borthwick allegedly put on a “violent, hardcore” pornographic film before ordering the boy to to expose his genitals.
The complainant said: “I can honestly say that was the lowest point of all. I just wanted everything to end. I cried myself to sleep.”
He told the court that he had suffered from bouts of depression due to the memories he had “hidden” from his loved-ones.
Speaking to the jury, he said: “I had started to put it in a box inside me because I couldn’t really understand it. It remained hidden. It was never part of a conversation I could have with my family, with anyone. It was this intensely terrifying thing that happened when I was alone with him.”
The complainant reported the alleged incidents to the police in 2021.
He told the court: “I didn’t want this secret to stay with me, I wanted the truth to come out about what took place all those years ago. I wanted to break the silence, break my silence.”
Prosecuting barrister Charles Ward-Jackson called on a monk from Woolhampton to tell the court about a conversation with Dr Borthwick. Father Peter Bowe said that he had spoken to Dr Borthwick at a church in Woolhampton in 2021, where Dr Borthwick allegedly said he had been contacted by the police regarding historic sexual abuse allegations.
Dr Borthwick, of Southend Road, Bradfield Southend, said he had “done it once and highly regretted it”, according to Father Bowe.
The Roman Catholic priest continued: “He knew it was morally wrong and legally wrong. He said he wanted to say sorry to the boy, but of course, it was not possible.”
Defence barrister Daniel O’Donoghue questioned the monk as to whether “legally wrong” were his words and not Dr Borthwick’s. Recollecting the conversation, Father Bowe said: “No – I would think that those admissions came from him.”
Father Bowe added that he “never had a doubt” about what Dr Borthwick was saying. He described the former doctor as a “big” and “cheerful” part of the community. The trial of facts continues.