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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Jail for child sex abuse teacher | Jail for child sex abuse teacher |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A former boarding school teacher has been jailed for 10 years and nine months after being convicted of 13 sexual offences against children. | A former boarding school teacher has been jailed for 10 years and nine months after being convicted of 13 sexual offences against children. |
| Paul Couch, 61, of Wyndham Street West, Plymouth, was found guilty earlier in August of two counts of serious sexual assault and 11 of indecent assault. | Paul Couch, 61, of Wyndham Street West, Plymouth, was found guilty earlier in August of two counts of serious sexual assault and 11 of indecent assault. |
| Couch, a former monk, had denied the charges at Exeter Crown Court. | Couch, a former monk, had denied the charges at Exeter Crown Court. |
| The offences, involving boys between eight and 13, took place between 1972 and 1993 at a now-closed Devon school. | The offences, involving boys between eight and 13, took place between 1972 and 1993 at a now-closed Devon school. |
| Judge Paul Darlow said Couch had committed a "gross breach of trust" and that the boys at the boarding school needed care and protection from the staff. | Judge Paul Darlow said Couch had committed a "gross breach of trust" and that the boys at the boarding school needed care and protection from the staff. |
| "You were in fact a predator, a sexual predator in that community-orientated monastic school," he said. | "You were in fact a predator, a sexual predator in that community-orientated monastic school," he said. |
| "You knew in what particular regard you would be held as a priest. | "You knew in what particular regard you would be held as a priest. |
| 'Secret personality' | 'Secret personality' |
| "During the course of this trial you sought to portray these boys as liars. | "During the course of this trial you sought to portray these boys as liars. |
| "These were not liars, fantasists, people mistaken or wrong, they were telling the truth." | "These were not liars, fantasists, people mistaken or wrong, they were telling the truth." |
| The Diocese remains fully committed to the protection and safety of children and young people Roman Catholic Diocese of Plymouth | |
| In mitigation, defending barrister Nicholas Gerasimides said the offences were not violent and that Couch posed a minimal risk of reoffending. | In mitigation, defending barrister Nicholas Gerasimides said the offences were not violent and that Couch posed a minimal risk of reoffending. |
| "These convictions have completely ended his life," he said. | "These convictions have completely ended his life," he said. |
| During the trial, prosecutor Ian Fenny said Couch was a man who had a "dark secret personality" and "found himself in a school surrounded by temptation". | |
| Internal inquiry | Internal inquiry |
| Couch, who the court heard was in a powerful position of trust, taught religious studies and English and was also involved in sport and extra-curricular activities. | |
| The court heard that at the time the boys did not really understand what was happening to them. | The court heard that at the time the boys did not really understand what was happening to them. |
| But over the years they revealed to people close to them what had happened, said Mr Fenny. | But over the years they revealed to people close to them what had happened, said Mr Fenny. |
| One boy did complain to the school authorities in 1987, but after an internal inquiry Couch stayed in his post. | One boy did complain to the school authorities in 1987, but after an internal inquiry Couch stayed in his post. |
| The police became involved in 2004 when a former pupil on remand in prison told a prison chaplain a member of staff at the school sexually abused him. | The police became involved in 2004 when a former pupil on remand in prison told a prison chaplain a member of staff at the school sexually abused him. |
| Co-operation with police | |
| The Roman Catholic Diocese of Plymouth said in a statement after the case: "The Diocesan authorities have cooperated fully with the police investigations that have taken place. | |
| "As soon as the allegations came to light Fr Couch was removed from all public ministry in accordance with national child protection policy. | |
| "Fr Couch was incardinated into the Plymouth Diocese in 1995. Prior to his incardination, the Diocesan authorities were not aware of any concerns relating to his conduct and ministry. | |
| "The Diocese remains fully committed to the protection and safety of children and young people." |