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Former Anglican dean jailed for raping boy in Australia | Former Anglican dean jailed for raping boy in Australia |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A former Anglican Dean of Newcastle in Australia has been jailed for raping a 15-year-old boy in 1991. | A former Anglican Dean of Newcastle in Australia has been jailed for raping a 15-year-old boy in 1991. |
Graeme Lawrence, now 77, is reported to be the second most senior Australian religious figure to be convicted of child sexual abuse, after Catholic Cardinal George Pell. | Graeme Lawrence, now 77, is reported to be the second most senior Australian religious figure to be convicted of child sexual abuse, after Catholic Cardinal George Pell. |
Lawrence was Anglican dean in the New South Wales city when he lured the boy to his home and raped him. | |
A court rejected Lawrence's assertion that he had never met his victim. | A court rejected Lawrence's assertion that he had never met his victim. |
Judge Tim Gartelmann sentenced Lawrence to spend a maximum of eight years in jail, saying he had exploited his position of power to abuse the boy. | Judge Tim Gartelmann sentenced Lawrence to spend a maximum of eight years in jail, saying he had exploited his position of power to abuse the boy. |
"The victim and his mother must have trusted him because he was the dean," Judge Gartelmann told the Newcastle District Court, the Australian Associated Press reported. | "The victim and his mother must have trusted him because he was the dean," Judge Gartelmann told the Newcastle District Court, the Australian Associated Press reported. |
The court heard Lawrence had invited the boy to his home following a youth concert at Newcastle's Christchurch Cathedral. | The court heard Lawrence had invited the boy to his home following a youth concert at Newcastle's Christchurch Cathedral. |
He had forced the boy - who "was so scared he was shaking" - to the floor before raping him, the judge said on Thursday. | He had forced the boy - who "was so scared he was shaking" - to the floor before raping him, the judge said on Thursday. |
Lawrence served as dean for 24 years until 2008, but was defrocked by the Anglican church in 2012 after the abuse allegations came to light. | Lawrence served as dean for 24 years until 2008, but was defrocked by the Anglican church in 2012 after the abuse allegations came to light. |
He will be eligible for parole after four-and-a-half years. | He will be eligible for parole after four-and-a-half years. |
Pell, one of the Catholic Church's most senior figures, was jailed for six years in March after being convicted of sexually abusing two boys in the 1990s. | Pell, one of the Catholic Church's most senior figures, was jailed for six years in March after being convicted of sexually abusing two boys in the 1990s. |
The former Vatican treasurer is waiting to learn whether his final bid to overturn his convictions will be heard by a court. | The former Vatican treasurer is waiting to learn whether his final bid to overturn his convictions will be heard by a court. |
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