LONDON (ENGLAND)
Press Association via Premier
November 22, 2017
A former Roman Catholic priest told jurors he fled to Kosovo out of “cowardice and stupidity” after being accused of abusing boys at a Catholic school.
Andrew Soper (also known as Father Laurence Soper) said his whole life had been “ruined” by the allegations over to his time as headmaster and senior priest at fee-paying St Benedict’s School in Ealing, west London.
While on police bail over accusations dating back to the 1970s and 80s, Soper went on the run in Kosovo – but was extradited back to England face trial at the Old Bailey.
Ten former pupils have made allegations against him, including that he used the cane as a ruse to sexually assault and rape them.
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