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Former Pupil Allegedly Abused by Ealing Priest Denies Being a "Professional Victim"

By Greg Wilford and Katy Clifton
getwestlondon.co.uk
October 16, 2017

http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/news/west-london-news/former-pupil-allegedly-abused-ealing-13768954

Known as Father Lawrence, Soper faces 19 charges of child sex abuse

A former west London pupil - who won a ?135,000 settlement after claiming he was sexually abused by a school priest - was accused of being a fantasist on Monday (October 16).

The alleged victim first came forward after claiming he was raped and indecently assaulted by Andrew Soper, 74, at St Benedict's School in Ealing in the 1970s.

The man, who remains anonymous for legal reasons, had his claim for criminal compensation refused when the case was dropped, but in 2012 he made a civil application for more than ?800,000.

St Benedict's initially offered ?25,000 before agreeing to settle the case for ?135,000 “without prejudice” or any admission that Soper was guilty of abuse, the Old Bailey heard.

Jane Humphryes QC, representing Soper, claimed the alleged victim was a “professional victim” who made up the allegations to excuse the failures of his life.

“I suggest you found your niche as a professional victim,” she said. “That is what you spent your time doing.

“You have decided, whether deliberately or through some fantasy, to create in yourself a victim of abuse that never happened at the hands of Father Soper.”

The witness replied: “I totally disagree.”

Andrew Soper was headmaster and senior priest at St Benedict's School (Image: Google Maps)

He admitted he stole from his parents, abused alcohol from the age of 12 and failed to get any school qualifications.

The alleged victim, who now lives on benefits, accepted his first marriage failed because of his unreasonable behaviour and said he suffered from mental health problems – including a suicide attempt in 1991.

When asked why he only disclosed the alleged abuse for the first time in around 2002, he said: “My father was a devout Roman Catholic and so was my mother.

“My father died in 1999.”

'Your life has not been a success'

The barrister suggested he made up allegations against Soper, who is accused of 19 sex offences against 10 former pupils at St Benedict's, in order to excuse life failures.

Miss Humphryes added: “You have made these allegations because they make some justification for the way you have behaved since you were 12, breaking rules and behaving in a manner which meant your life has not been a success, to try and excuse your behaviour.”

Former headmaster father David Pearce and former maths teacher John Maestri have previously been prosecuted for child abuse at the school, jurors heard.

Soper was tracked down and deported from Albania after five-and-a-half years on the run in August 2016.

He has been expelled from the monastery of St Benedict of Ealing for "scandalous behaviour" but is still a priest, the court heard.

Soper, formerly of Peja, Kosovo, denies two counts of buggery, one count of indecency with a child, 10 counts of indecent assault on boys under 16 and six counts of indecent assault on boys under 18.

The trial continues.

 

 

 

 

 




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