European Arrest Warrant Issued for Fugitive British Priest Wanted over Sexual Abuse Allegation

Vancouver Sun
September 2, 2012

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/European+arrest+warrant+issued+fugitive+British+priest+wanted+over+sexual+abuse+allegation/7181299/story.html

LONDON - British police say they have issued a European arrest warrant for a fugitive Catholic priest who is wanted for questioning over an allegation of sexual assault.

Scotland Yard said Sunday that it had obtained the warrant for Father Laurence Soper, who was arrested in 2010 over accusations of child abuse several decades ago while teaching at a Roman Catholic school in west London.

Soper was questioned in 2010 and released on bail. He had been due to return to a police station in March for further questioning, but he failed to appear.

The cleric taught at St. Benedict's School, which a judge-led inquiry found last year had been the scene of at least 20 incidents of sexual misconduct over 40 years.

Police said that Soper, 68, had recently been living in Italy, and have appealed for help to trace him from Italian authorities.