UNITED KINGDOM
Manchester Evening News

NEIL DOCKING
13 APR 2017

A Catholic priest has been jailed for 17 years after a catalogue of horrific sexual abuse against a young boy which left him praying for death.

Father Michael Higginbottom, 74, repeatedly raped his victim who told the court that the “evil” priest had ruined his life.

Higginbottom revelled in “cruel, sadistic bullying” at St Joseph’s College, a seminary for prospective priests, in Upholland, near Wigan .

He used a strap and cane on boys as punishment and said he could “make this as easy or as hard” as the victim wanted before carrying out sickening sexual abuse.