Headteacher who became a Church of England vicar, 63, 'was a "father figure" to a boy he sexually abused for seven years'

By Alex Matthews
Daily Mail
February 21, 2017

https://goo.gl/kLiXE5

Vicar David Fletcher is alleged to have abused a boy while he was a teacher in Bradford during the 1980s and 1990s

A man has accused Fletcher of touching him indecently and 'snogging him' during an alleged attack while he was a child

A former headteacher who went on to become a Church of England vicar has been accused of sexually abusing a boy for seven years.

David Fletcher, 63, is alleged to have indecently touched the youngster, who was between nine and 15, from the late 1980s and into the 1990s before targeting him again when he was an adult.

During this period Fletcher, who is currently a vicar in East Yorkshire, was deputy headteacher at a primary school and later a headteacher of a secondary school in Bradford. 

A man said Fletcher touched him indecently before thrusting his body at him and 'snogging' him.

The complainant has also accused the vicar of sexually assaulting him in a kitchen on a date between 2009 and 2011.

Fletcher denies seven allegations of indecent assault, relating to a child aged between nine and 15, and a charge of sexually assaulting the same complainant on a single occasion when he was an adult.

Bradford Crown Court heard that the complainant had looked on Fletcher as a 'father figure' because his own father was not around.

He has accused Fletcher, now living in Driffield, East Yorkshire of putting his hands up his shirt and touching him indecently.

Prosecuting, Ian Howard said Fletcher inveigled his way into the boy's life, gaining his trust to abuse him.

Mr Howard also told the jury the complainant had also accused a former vicar at St Oswald's Church, Australian national Graham Doyle, of sexually abusing him; however, he was not in court.

Mr Howard said: 'The Rev Doyle is out of the jurisdiction, beyond our shores. He is not being prosecuted.'

The court heard that Fletcher changed career paths in 2001 when he was ordained into the Church of England priesthood and became vicar.

It was alleged that years afterwards Fletcher 'came on to' the complainant, then an adult, trying to kiss and touch him.

The man went to the police with his accusations about Fletcher and Doyle in 2014.

When he was arrested by the police, Fletcher denied all the allegations.

Giving evidence to the court by video link, the complainant said he had been a boy searching for a father figure and at the time he thought he had found 'his perfect family'.

He said: 'I respected him and wanted to be loved as part of a family.

Of Fletcher he said: 'He used to kiss me like a girl.'

The man said he was abused by Fletcher when he went to his home at Queensbury to help feed and clean out the goats on the family's smallholding.

The man has also alleged that Graham Doyle would watch him shower and sexually abuse him when he was 12 or 13.

He said: 'Psychologically, I am in a mess because of them.'

Cross-examined by defence barrister Rodney Ferm, the alleged victim agreed he was physically much stronger than Fletcher but said he still felt terrified of him.

The man, who is now married with children, said he had sung in a church choir as a child and was still religious, although he no longer attended church.

The trial continues.