PETERBOROUGH (UNITED KINGDOM)
The Hunts Post [Huntingdon, England]
October 10, 2025
By Ben Jolley
A former priest in the Diocese of East Anglia has today been sentenced to 11 years for a number of non-recent sexual offences against children.
Dennis Finbow changed his plea to guilty in July of this year in relation to offences involving multiple children between 1975 and 1992.
The 77-year-old appeared at Cambridge Crown Court today (Friday October 10).
He was sentenced in relation to 15 counts of indecent assault against five victims – three females and two males – including three who were eight and nine years old at the time he abused them.
The court heard powerful victim impact statements from each of the survivors, who spoke of how Finbow had “shattered the trust placed in him” and that the psychological effects of his abuse had “reverberated” through the rest of their lives, with devastating effects on their mental health, personal relationships and careers.
In his sentencing remarks, the Judge told Finbow that he is a “manipulative and predatory paedophile” and that “it is difficult to imagine a greater perversion of the role that you held and the ministry you were meant to be engaging in”.
In addition to his custodial sentence, a Sexual Harm Prevention Order was made against Finbow.
Finbow, who once served as priest in the Diocese of East Anglia, was also convicted in 2023 of multiple offences arising from the sexual abuse of a young girl in the 1980s while he worked in Dogsthorpe, Peterborough.
He is already serving a six and a half year prison sentence for that offence and will be on the sex offenders’ register for the rest of his life.
The Catholic Church removed Finbow’s clerical status following the 2023 convictions.
Bolt Burdon Kemp abuse lawyer Hayley Chapman-Todd, who is representing one of the survivors of Finbow’s abuse, said: “Although today’s sentence will not erase the harm caused, it brings a measure of justice for Finbow’s survivors who have waited a long time to see Finbow held accountable.
“However the Catholic Church has questions to answer in relation to how Finbow was able to use his position to abuse children for so long.”
The Diocese of East Anglia says it has cooperated closely and fully with Cambridgeshire Police in regard to their criminal investigation.
Bishop Peter Collins said: “I wish to reiterate our willingness to listen to and support anyone affected by abuse and all victims of child sexual abuse are in my prayers.
“We would encourage any victim of child sexual abuse perpetrated within the Catholic Church context to make contact either directly through our Safeguarding Office or with Safe Spaces, our Victim Support Service.
“Today’s sentencing confirms the validity of previous convictions and of the decision to remove Dennis Finbow from clerical office.”
Anyone with concerns or queries about the case or those who require support should contact Liam Sainsbury, diocesan safeguarding coordinator on 07931 952626.