A vicar from Newton Aycliffe and a priest from Alnwick have been imprisoned for their reprehensible historical abuse of young boys.
In the late 1970s, George Granville Gibson served as the vicar of a church in Newton Aycliffe, during which he committed an indecent assault against a minor. Durham Crown Court was informed that Gibson, a leader of a church group, perpetrated the offences during pantomime rehearsals and subsequently at a house party after the show’s conclusion.
Judge James Adkin stated that Gibson would “target” a young man and commit indecent assault “in the presence of others” by rubbing against his body and “seemed to derive pleasure” from their companionship.
Gibson, now 86 years old, was convicted by a jury of two counts of indecent assault and sentenced to 21 months in prison. He will be included on the sex offender registry for a duration of ten years.
In November, Judge Adkin sentenced Gibson, stating: “You were the Parish priest, esteemed and wholly trusted to uphold Christian values within the community.” Individuals in positions of authority who are sex offenders must be aware that they will face imprisonment if they exploit minors inside the community.
In December, Chronicle Live reported how another clergyman was locked up for carrying out sex attacks on a young boy.
Perverted priest David Taylor, from Alnwick, ruined the life of a young boy with sickening sex attacks in a church and on Holy Island. The court heard the abuse happened in a church vestry, at a retreat on Holy Island, in an old convent and also during a trip to a football tournament.
Prosecutor Vince Ward said: “These were religious venues where he would have expected to be safeguarded but wasn’t.”
The victim said the first time it happened was when he was put under Taylor’s gown and made to do a sex act.
The victim kept his abuse a secret for four decades, fearing he would never be believed over the trusted churchman. Now he finally has justice after Taylor was convicted of ten offences, of indecency with a child and indecent assault.
The victim said: “I was angry and confused and started to blame myself for what happened. I felt disgusted I had allowed Father Taylor to abuse me in the way he had.
“The abuse has affected my work life and my personal relationships. My anger issues have caused many of my relationships to break down and I believe this is because of my childhood abuse. My mental health has suffered also.”
Newcastle Crown Court heard Taylor had been convicted of five offences of indecent assault against boys in the 1980s in 2009 when he was jailed for 30 months. And in 2017 he got a suspended sentence for another count of indecent assault.
Judge Julie Clemitson sentenced Taylor, of Angel Lane, Alnwick, Northumberland, to 13 years in prison for his latest offences and he must sign the sex offenders register for life. The judge told Taylor he’d had a sexual interest in boys from an early stage in his career, having been ordained in 1977.
Judge Clemitson said: “There were so many occasions he can’t recall them. It seems to him there were hundreds of them because it happened so often in various places. Throughout this long process you have protested your innocence, saying you had no recollection of him. That clearly can’t be true.
“His victim impact statement describes the devastating impact your abuse has had for the last 40 years – that’s almost the entirety of his life he has had to live under the shadow of what you did to him as a child.
“He was particularly vulnerable due to his age, where he was – in the vestry on his own and away from home at Holy Island, separated from others in your bedroom.”
Lorraine Mustard, defending, said Taylor continues to protest his innocence.
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this article, then please report those individuals to the Police on 111 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.