Retired Sherborne Priest Roy Catchpole Cleared of Sex Assault Charges

Western Daily Press
January 14, 2016

http://www.westerndailypress.co.uk/Retired-priest-cleared-sex-assault-charges/story-28521960-detail/story.html

A clergyman who was recently acquitted of four counts of sexual assault has thanked the community for their "incredible" support during the past 18 months.

At a hearing on Wednesday, January 6, at Bournemouth Crown Court, Judge Roberts ordered that a not guilty verdict should be entered after the prosecution offered no evidence in the case of Roy Catchpole, 69, of Milborne Port.

A spokeswoman for the Crown Prosecution Service said: "We had to offer no evidence as we were not going to pursue with a prosecution and in order to end the proceedings."

Following the not guilty order, Mr Catchpole expressed his relief that the ordeal of the past 18 months was now over.