UNITED KINGDOM
Kent Online

by Anna Young
ayoung@thekmgroup.co.uk

A former Maidstone priest has been jailed for raping and molesting two boys – nine years after his secretary first alerted police.

Sarah Haines has spoken of the shock and sadness of discovering her former boss and trusted family friend had been sentenced to 13 years in prison after admitting 17 sex attacks.

He is Phillip Challis, 52, who served at Holy Family Catholic Church, in Park Wood, from 1996 to 2003.

Now his former assistant has lashed out at the authorities, who failed to act when she first raised concerns.

She said: “The church did not help me. They swept it under the carpet. No one took me seriously.

“He was a family friend, he babysat my children and came to family parties.”