UNITED KINGDOM
Yorkshire Evening Post
Tuesday 10 November 2015
A retired Roman Catholic priest is set to appear in court accused of historic sexual abuse offences at a West Yorkshire children’s home.
Roy Lovatt, 70, from Redcar, has been charged with five counts of indecent assault and seven counts of a serious sexual offence. He will appear at Leeds Magistrates’ Court on December 9.
In a statement today, West Yorkshire Police said the charges against Lovatt relate to alleged abuse at the former Thorp Arch Grange Children’s Home, in Wetherby, in the 1970s and 1980s.
The force has also revealed that two men and a woman have been charged over alleged historic sexual abuse at the former Shadwell children’s home in Leeds in the 1980s and 1990s. …
A spokesman for the Diocese of Middlesbrough said: “The Roman Catholic Diocese of Middlesbrough can confirm that it is aware that a retired priest in the Diocese has been assisting West Yorkshire Police with their enquiries into allegations of historic offences and that on November 9 2015 he was formally charged.
“The offences with which he is charged relate to a time before he was ordained as a Catholic priest.
“The Diocese can further confirm that the priest concerned has not exercised any ministry since the inquiries began and will not be doing so for the time being.
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