Jehovah's Witness Church Elders Covered up Sex Abuse by Paedophile

By Kevin Donald
Sky Tyne and Wear
July 17, 2013

http://tyneandwear.sky.com/news/article/73858/jehovahs-witness-church-elders-covered-up-sex-abuse-by-paedophile

[with video]

Jehovah's Witness church elders covered up a child sex scandal in their congregation and refused to co-operate with the police. 

Ministerial servant Gordon Leighton admitted sexually abusing a child when he was confronted with allegations before elders at his church. 

But during the official police investigation the 53-year-old, who hit the headlines in the 1990s when his wife Yvonne, 28, died after refusing a blood transfusion after childbirth on religious grounds, denied any illegal wrongdoing.

When detectives asked elders Simon Preyser, Harry Logan and David Scott to make statements about the confession, all three refused and said what they had heard was confidential.

The elders knew about Leighton's admissions for three years but refused to co-operate with the criminal investigation

The trio kept that stance when the case was brought before Newcastle Crown Court. Each was then issued with a witness summons.

They then launched a court battle against the summonses but were ordered to testify by Judge Penny Moreland after months of legal wrangling.

Their barrister Richard Daniels said the men had a "duty to God" not to breach confidence.

He added: "Privileged communication between members of the congregation and ministers is an absolute right and duty and there is no power in law to breach such a confidence."

Judge Moreland made an order that the men must reveal what they heard and said: "It is apparent that the three elders who were present when this conversation took place are in possession of relevant evidence as to a point which is of real significance in this case.

"They claim the right of confidentiality, they claim that what they heard said by the defendant during the course of that meeting ought to be subject to privilege, as ministers of religion. "

Judge Moreland refused to withdraw the summonses and said: "Public interest is clearly in favour of this evidence being given.

"What was said by the defendant on that occasion is of great significance in the trial."

Despite the judge's ruling, the men refused to make statements to police until just hours before they were called as witnesses before the jury.

Leighton, who has since been expelled from the church at Lambton Kingdom Hall in Washington, Wearside, denied two charges of indecency with a child and seven of indecent assault.

He was yesterday found guilty of two charges of indecency with a child and six of indecent assault.

He was found not guilty of one indecent assault charge, on the direction of the judge.

Judge Moreland remanded him in custody until August 23, when he will be sentenced.

The judge told him: "You know, I am sure, that the inevitable sentence is one of immediate and lengthy custody.

"You will be remanded in custody in the meantime."

Prosecutor Katherine Dunn told the court it was in 2009 the victim, who is now an adult, broke her silence about what Leighton had done to her.

The court heard at a special meeting, aimed at "keeping the congregation clean", Leighton "admitted sexual abuse" and made excuses for his vile behaviour.

Miss Dunn said: "The elders conducted their own investigation.

"A meeting was arranged and the defendant was confronted with the allegations.

"After initially denying the allegations he broke down and admitted sexually abusing the complainant."

The court heard Leighton, of Wigeon Close, Ayton, refused to answer any questions when interviewed by detectives and claimed his confession at the meeting was limited to masturbation and reading pornographic material.

Throughout the six day trial Leighton denied all allegations against him and denied he had confessed to the elders.

He told jurors: "It never happened. It's all untrue."

Leighton had also denied unrelated assault charges, which he was found guilty of.

Gordon Leighton married his first wife Yvonne in 1991 and she gave birth to a baby boy in January 1993.

The 53-year-old told jurors the pregnancy and delivery seemed fine but problems developed in the following days.

Mrs Leighton needed surgical intervention and developed further complications and blood loss.

During her hospital stay the 28-year-old signed a form stating she was not to receive a blood transfusion and died as a result.

Members of the Jehovas Witness church were present at the hospital to ensure medical staff complied with her wishes.

When asked his view on what happened, Leighton said: "I respected her decision and stood by it."

Mrs Leighton died when her son was just two weeks old.

Leighton told jurors his life became a news story because of what happened.

He said: "At the coroner's report at Sunderland Magistrates I was chased down the street by the press with cameras and things didn't settle down, the press found out where I lived and were sort of following me around, jumping out of bushes, knocking on the door with a cheque book for a story." 

Leighton said his neighbourhood became "very, very hostile" when word spread about what had happened to his wife and he was branded a "murderer".

He said: "They were doing things like scratching my car, letting the tyres down, putting notes through the door saying 'murderer'.

"It was very, very emotional to have a young child and have all this on top.

"I had a lot of assistance, a lot of people from the Jehova's Witness community were there for me, to help me.

"I was inexperienced with a two-week old baby, the ladies really helped."

Leighton denied the sex abuse charges in court and denied he had confessed to them during the meeting with the elders.

He said: "It never happened. It's all untrue."