Priest jailed for sex attacks on schoolgirl which took place 40 years ago

UNITED KINGDOM
ITV

A priest has been jailed for three years for sex attacks on a teenage schoolgirl more than 40 years ago.

John Farmer, now 84, abused the girl between the ages of 12 and 14 while her family were part of his congregation.

A court heard heard the Roman Catholic priest referred to his lap as “the soft seat” – and then abused her as she sat on him.

The girl “idolised” the family priest and the court heard she was “immature and blameless” during the assaults.

Farmer was a priest at St Mary’s Church in Newport, Gwent, and a governor at St Joseph’s RC High School in Duffryn, Newport.

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