Former Catholic priest on the run for five years arrested over sex abuse

By Carey Lodge
Christian Today
August 22, 2016

http://www.christiantoday.com/article/former.catholic.priest.on.the.run.for.five.years.arrested.over.sex.abuse/93634.htm

Soper allegedly committed the offences at St Benedict's School in Ealing, west London, where he was a teacher.

A former Catholic priest accused of abusing five boys in the 1970s and 1980s has been returned to the UK and arrested after skipping bail in 2011.

Father Laurence Soper, 72, was arrested on suspicion of nine charges including indecent assault, gross indecency and buggery.

He was arrested in Kosovo in May under a European Arrest Warrant but a Kosovan judge blocked his return to the UK because Soper's alleged crimes had occurred too long ago.

However, UK police announced on Sunday that the priest had been arrested at Luton Airport "on suspicion of nine offences of sexual assault committed over a period from 1972 to 1986".

Soper allegedly committed the offences at St Benedict's School in Ealing, west London, where he was a teacher. He went on to become abbot of Ealing Abbey and then treasurer of a Catholic order in Rome.

He was first arrested in 2010 when a man in his 40s came forward with an allegation of sexual assault at the school, which was also attended by actor Andy Serkis and comedian Julian Clary. Soper was bailed but did not return to a London police station in March 2011.

He has since reportedly been living in the city of Pec in Kosovo, where local news reports say he assumed the name Andrew.

A Pec resident told Kosovan news outlet Insajderi: "'He lived in a house of a friend of mine. I have spoken and met with him several times. He said he was writing a book."

Soper will appear at Ealing Magistrates' Court today.