Teenage boy claims Sydney priest forced him to drink alcohol before alleged abuse

SYDNEY (AUSTRALIA)
The Sydney Morning Herald

February 1, 2018

A teenage boy has told a jury that a Russian Orthodox priest forced him to drink alcohol before climbing on top of him in bed at his Sydney church flat.

Stanislav Vakhabov, also known as Father Christopher, 35, has pleaded not guilty to detaining the then 14-year-old for his own sexual gratification, giving him intoxicating substances to make it easier to have unlawful sexual activity and four counts of indecent assault.

The boy said in a recorded police interview played to the jury at the District Court on Thursday that Vakhabov also tried to take his shirt off, kissed him on the mouth and told him cuddling was a sign of friendship.

Vakhabov invited a 14-year-old overseas boy to come to Australia before sexually molesting him and locking him in his Sydney church flat, a jury has been told.

The boy’s deeply religious mother agreed he could holiday in Australia in 2014 because of Stanislav Vakhabov’s position in the church, the prosecutor told the District Court on Wednesday at the start of his trial.

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