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Longhorsley vicar Peter McConnell guilty of drunken plane grope | Longhorsley vicar Peter McConnell guilty of drunken plane grope |
(32 minutes later) | |
A vicar has been found guilty of sexually assaulting an American student on a transatlantic flight. | A vicar has been found guilty of sexually assaulting an American student on a transatlantic flight. |
The Reverend Peter McConnell rubbed the man's groin on a flight from Philadelphia to Heathrow in March 2017, Newcastle Crown Court heard. | The Reverend Peter McConnell rubbed the man's groin on a flight from Philadelphia to Heathrow in March 2017, Newcastle Crown Court heard. |
McConnell, of Longhorsley, Northumberland, had been drinking wine and spoke about strip clubs. | McConnell, of Longhorsley, Northumberland, had been drinking wine and spoke about strip clubs. |
The 64-year-old, who was vicar at St Helen's Church in the village at the time, was convicted at a retrial. | The 64-year-old, who was vicar at St Helen's Church in the village at the time, was convicted at a retrial. |
He will be sentenced on 29 July. | He will be sentenced on 29 July. |
Jurors previously heard he had moved to sit in an empty seat next to the student, because a child behind him kept kicking his own. | Jurors previously heard he had moved to sit in an empty seat next to the student, because a child behind him kept kicking his own. |
McConnell then explained to him that he had been visiting the United States with his godson. | McConnell then explained to him that he had been visiting the United States with his godson. |
Towards the end of the flight the student became tired and McConnell covered him with a blanket, the court heard. | Towards the end of the flight the student became tired and McConnell covered him with a blanket, the court heard. |
It was then the vicar sexually assaulted him under the blanket after he fell asleep. | |
McConnell - who was Northumbria Police chaplain during the hunt for killer Raoul Moat - was on long-term sick leave at the time of the assault and retired earlier this year. | McConnell - who was Northumbria Police chaplain during the hunt for killer Raoul Moat - was on long-term sick leave at the time of the assault and retired earlier this year. |