SENTENCING STATEMENTS

On sentencing, Judge Craig said:

"You were found guilty of a total of four charges. Three involved someone who regarded you as their father figure and one a parishioner who had come to you for spiritual help. You sexually abused both of them in what can only be described as the grossest breach of trust on your part.

You hold yourself out to be a religious leader who speaks directly to god and espouses the highest standards of probity. However in reality you are nothing more than an opportunistic sexual predator indiscriminatingly taking advantage of those who should have been able to trust you the most.

It was very clear from the evidence that you cynically exploited that trust for your own sexual ends without care or regard for the impact that would have on either of your victims. They ranged in age, background and experience but the common denominator was that they worshiped you – literally – believed you to be a prophet who could work miracles and placed their complete faith in you.

You told your victims they had been given to you by god, that your hands and lips were holy and they were blessed to have been touched by you. It was that belief that gave you access but you took sexual advantage of them in whatever way and whenever you felt like doing so.

The court also heard evidence from two other women – one a teenager and one a mature woman – about your sexual abuse of them. That abuse followed the same pattern of cynical opportunistic assaults, exploiting their faith in you. You had previously been convicted of those sexual assaults but that was overturned by the appeal court which found there had been a misdirection at the original trial. Nevertheless the Crown relied on their evidence to prove the charges you faced in this case. It is clear from the jury’s verdict that they accepted you were involved in a course of criminal sexual abuse of multiple parishioners over several years.

The jury also convicted you of the attempted rape of the second complainer. You were a father figure to them and were considerably older. It was clear from the evidence that although you did not complete the rape that was not because you realised how appalling it was to try and rape a child; instead it was because physically you were unable to finish the act. In the circumstances of this case that does not diminish or reduce the seriousness of what you did.

You deny all of the charges. You blame others, alleging that there was a conspiracy against you and that the witnesses were coerced. There was no support for that anywhere in the evidence.

The social worker who interviewed you in advance of this morning’s hearing explains you take absolutely no responsibility for your offences, show no empathy for your victims and blame them entirely.  

You have been assessed as being at medium risk of reoffending sexually. The report also mentions that you continue to preach while on remand. That is of concern because it was that preaching that allowed you unchallenged access to your victims. The risk you pose will be reflected in the sentence I will impose.

You have no previous convictions. You also had – superficially at least – a pro-social lifestyle. Normally that would be seen as a mitigating factor. However in your case it is clear it was nothing more than a front which you callously exploited for your own sexual purposes.

I have had regard to what has been said on your behalf in mitigation, however it seems to me that any mitigation is minimal and instead there are numerous aggravating factors.

The sentencing guidelines require I balance the need to protect the public, punish offenders and mark the courts disapproval of behaviour such as yours, alongside issues of rehabilitation and the opportunity to make amends. In your case your behaviour is so serious only a lengthy custodial sentence is appropriate.

I am also satisfied that given the level of risk you pose the normal period of licence would not be adequate to protect the public from the risk of serious harm you present. I will therefore impose an extended sentence.

In relation to the custodial elements, on charge 2 – the attempted rape – having regard to the significant aggravating factors in this case, the sentence will be 6 years.

In respect of the other three charges I impose a cumulo custodial term of 4 years to be served consecutively to the sentence on charge 2.

I'm required to state what the sentences would be if the offences stood alone:

Charge 1 – a charge indecent assault – 2 years

Charge 3 – also a charge of indecent assault – 3 years

Charge 6 – a charge of sexual assault – 3 years

I have adjusted the overall sentences to reflect the principle that sentences should be no more severe than necessary.

In addition there will be an extension period of 4 years during which you will be closely supervised in the community. That will include a requirement that you undertake offence focused work and your involvement with faith based activities will be monitored and controlled.

Accordingly the overall sentence will be 14 years comprising a custodial sentence of 10 years and an extension of 4 years. It will be backdated to the date of your remand on 2 July 2025

The Crown seeks Non Harassment Orders for an indefinite period and these are not opposed by you.

Accordingly in relation to both victims you will not, for an indefinite period contact, approach or communicate with, or attempt to contact, approach or communicate with them, by any means either directly or indirectly.

You will remain subject to the notification requirements applicable to sex offenders for an indefinite period, and your name will be added to the lists of persons deemed unsuitable to work with vulnerable groups."