Andrew Soper, 74, is likely to die in prison after being found guilty of a string of sex attacks on boys in the 1970s and 80s.
He fled to Kosovo with £182,000 from the Vatican bank in a bid to avoid responsibility for the abuse at fee-paying St Benedict’s School in Ealing, west London.
But the former Ealing abbot and headmaster, known as Father Laurence, was extradited to face 19 charges of indecent assault and buggery against 10 former pupils.
On being found guilty at the Old Bailey, the school apologised unreservedly for the “serious wrongs of the past”.
Soper’s victims were supported by relatives in court when he appeared to be sentenced.
The court heard Soper still maintained his innocence and described his conviction as a “miscarriage of justice”.
The court heard he has already been attacked while on remand at Wormwood Scrubs and is now being held in segregation for his own protection.
Sentencing, Judge Anthony Bate said his conduct was “the most appalling breach of trust” and he had “subverted the rules of the Benedictine order and teachings of the Catholic Church”.
He told Soper: “You have been a clandestine sex offender since your early 30s.”
He said his life would now be “overshadowed by the proven catalogue of vile abuse”.
He added: “Your disgrace is complete.”
The school counts former Conservative chairman Lord Patten and entertainer Julian Clary among its old boys and currently charges fees of around £5,000 a term.
It had come under scrutiny in the…
… Read More
—
Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.