Ex-Catholic Monk who ‘fled’ after child abuse claims charged after returning to UK
Laurence Soper disappeared for FIVE years after being arrested with police finally catching up with the alleged abuser
A FORMER monk who had been at the centre of a five year manhunt has returned to the UK and charged over nine historic child abuse allegations.
Laurence Soper, now 72, had been on the run since 2011 after skipping bail while on accusations of child sex abuse.
He had been arrested after a man in his 20s came forward to police in 2010, alleging that Soper had been involved in sexual assaults at St Benedict's School in Ealing.
But the monk, who had been the abbot of Ealing Abbey in west London from 1991 to 2000, skipped bail in March 2011, managing to avoid authorities for five years.
Soper has now been charged with nine offences that allegedly targeted five victims, including an act of gross indecency towards a boy of 14-years-old and indecent assault of a boy under the age of 16.
Police issued a European Arrest Warrant for Soper in 2012, with it suspected that the former monk was living in Italy.
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But it was only until May this year that authorities caught up with Soper, with the former monastic leader arrested in Kosovo in May this year.
He had reportedly been living in Pec for several years.
Scotland Yard last night confirmed that Soper had been flown back to the UK from Europe.
He was immediately arrested on suspicion of nine sexual assaults between 1972 and 1986 and later arrested.
Soper's alleged crimes
- buggery on a day unknown between 17 February 1972 and 18th February 1976 contrary to section 12 (1) of the Sexual Offences Act 1956 on a boy under the age of 16 years [Victim 1]
- buggery on a day unknown between 17 February 1972 and 18th February 1976 contrary to section 12 (1) of the Sexual Offences Act 1956 on a boy under the age of 16 years [Victim 1]
- an act of gross indecency on a day unknown between 17 February 1972 and 18 February 1974 contrary to the Indecency with Children Act 1960 towards a boy under the age of 14 years [Victim 1]
- indecently assaulting a boy under the age of 16 years contrary to section 15(1) of the Sexual Offences Act 1956 [Victim 1]
- indecent assault on a day unknown between 22 August 1979 and 23 August 1984 contrary to section 15 (1) of the Sexual Offences Act 1956 on a boy under the age of 16 years [Victim 2]
- indecent assault on a day unknown between 22 August 1979 and 23 August 1984 contrary to section 15 (1) of the Sexual Offences Act 1956 on a boy under the age of 16 years [Victim 2]
- indecent assault on a day unknown between 4 December 1979 and 23 December 1984 contrary to section 15 (1) of the Sexual Offences Act 1956 on a boy under the age of 16 years [Victim 3]
- indecent assault on a day unknown between 10 November 1979 and 11 November 1984 contrary to section 15 (1) of the Sexual Offences Act 1956 on a boy under the age of 16 years [Victim 4]
- C indecent assault on a day unknown between 14 May 1982 and 15 May 1986 contrary to section 15 (1) of the Sexual Offences Act 1956 on a boy under the age of 16 years [Victim 5]
A force spokesman said: “Soper was arrested by officers as he arrived back in the UK at Luton Airport from Kosovo on Sunday 21 August.
"He was taken into custody at a west London police station, where he was later charged."
He is expected to appear at Ealing Magistrates' Court today, Monday August 22.
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