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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Retired priest admits child abuse | Retired priest admits child abuse |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A retired vicar has pleaded guilty to sexually abusing two boys when he was at a church in Northamptonshire. | A retired vicar has pleaded guilty to sexually abusing two boys when he was at a church in Northamptonshire. |
| Collin Pritchard, 64, now living in Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex, admitted seven sex offences, six of which were committed against one boy. | Collin Pritchard, 64, now living in Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex, admitted seven sex offences, six of which were committed against one boy. |
| The offences took place while he was parish priest at St Andrew's Church in Wellingborough in the 1970s and 80s. | The offences took place while he was parish priest at St Andrew's Church in Wellingborough in the 1970s and 80s. |
| At Northampton Crown Court, Pritchard was jailed for five years. The judge said he had "betrayed his calling". | At Northampton Crown Court, Pritchard was jailed for five years. The judge said he had "betrayed his calling". |
| "It was the most appalling breach of trust," Judge Christopher Metcalf told him, as he passed sentence. | "It was the most appalling breach of trust," Judge Christopher Metcalf told him, as he passed sentence. |
| "You took advantage of young boys who wanted to involve themselves in your church." | "You took advantage of young boys who wanted to involve themselves in your church." |
| Colin Pritchard was a vicar at St Andrew's Church in Wellingborough | |
| The disgraced clergyman was prosecuted after one off his victims, now aged 39, decided to tell the police what had happened to him. | The disgraced clergyman was prosecuted after one off his victims, now aged 39, decided to tell the police what had happened to him. |
| Anne Cotcher QC, prosecuting, said the father felt he could not allow his own son to attend a Church of England school such was his dislike of the institution. | Anne Cotcher QC, prosecuting, said the father felt he could not allow his own son to attend a Church of England school such was his dislike of the institution. |
| The court heard another Church of England vicar, named in court as Roy Cotton, had been involved in the offences but died in 2006 two weeks before Pritchard's arrest. | The court heard another Church of England vicar, named in court as Roy Cotton, had been involved in the offences but died in 2006 two weeks before Pritchard's arrest. |
| Miss Cotcher said the boy did odd jobs around the church and this provided Pritchard with the opportunity to invite him back to the vicarage and take him on trips. | Miss Cotcher said the boy did odd jobs around the church and this provided Pritchard with the opportunity to invite him back to the vicarage and take him on trips. |
| Grooming had started with kissing and fondling and developed to them sharing a bed together, the court heard. | Grooming had started with kissing and fondling and developed to them sharing a bed together, the court heard. |
| Feelings of guilt | Feelings of guilt |
| The prosecutor said Pritchard would tell the boy that they had a special relationship which others would not understand. | The prosecutor said Pritchard would tell the boy that they had a special relationship which others would not understand. |
| After finally finding the courage to tell others what had happened to him police launched an investigation and traced a second victim. | After finally finding the courage to tell others what had happened to him police launched an investigation and traced a second victim. |
| Judge Metcalf was told this victim, now 42, had been regularly sexually abused by Cotton, the court heard. | Judge Metcalf was told this victim, now 42, had been regularly sexually abused by Cotton, the court heard. |
| Miss Cotcher said both victims had suffered feelings of guilt and shame because of what had happened to them during their childhoods. | Miss Cotcher said both victims had suffered feelings of guilt and shame because of what had happened to them during their childhoods. |