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| Former Chichester vicar jailed for 'this is what God wants' abuse | Former Chichester vicar jailed for 'this is what God wants' abuse |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| A former vicar who sexually abused a woman and a girl, who he told "it was what God wanted", has been jailed for eight years. | A former vicar who sexually abused a woman and a girl, who he told "it was what God wanted", has been jailed for eight years. |
| Meirion Griffiths, 81, was convicted of four counts of indecent assault last month following a six-day retrial. | Meirion Griffiths, 81, was convicted of four counts of indecent assault last month following a six-day retrial. |
| He had moved to Perth in Australia from Chichester, in West Sussex, but was extradited to the UK to face justice. | He had moved to Perth in Australia from Chichester, in West Sussex, but was extradited to the UK to face justice. |
| Sentencing him, the judge at Portsmouth Crown Court said Griffiths' actions were an "enormous breach of trust". | Sentencing him, the judge at Portsmouth Crown Court said Griffiths' actions were an "enormous breach of trust". |
| Judge Roger Hetherington described the effects on the two "highly-impressionable, naive and innocent" victims as "devastating". | Judge Roger Hetherington described the effects on the two "highly-impressionable, naive and innocent" victims as "devastating". |
| Griffiths was a Church of England vicar at St Pancras Church, in Chichester, at the time of the offences. | |
| He was found guilty of two counts of indecent assault against a teenage girl during the mid-1970s, one of them involving multiple occasions. | He was found guilty of two counts of indecent assault against a teenage girl during the mid-1970s, one of them involving multiple occasions. |
| He was also convicted of two counts of indecent assault against a woman, in her mid-20s, in 1982. | He was also convicted of two counts of indecent assault against a woman, in her mid-20s, in 1982. |
| He was found not guilty of two counts of indecent assault, one against each of the women. | He was found not guilty of two counts of indecent assault, one against each of the women. |
| Richard Witcombe, prosecuting, told the court that Griffiths, who was married with two children, targeted the teenager who attended bible classes and social groups at his church. | Richard Witcombe, prosecuting, told the court that Griffiths, who was married with two children, targeted the teenager who attended bible classes and social groups at his church. |
| The court also heard that Griffiths abused her while teaching her to drive, while during trips to the beach he took off all his clothes while swimming. | The court also heard that Griffiths abused her while teaching her to drive, while during trips to the beach he took off all his clothes while swimming. |
| Mr Witcombe said: "As a result of gaining her trust, he was able to abuse her... telling her it was what God wanted." | Mr Witcombe said: "As a result of gaining her trust, he was able to abuse her... telling her it was what God wanted." |
| Waiving her right to anonymity, Julie McFarlane told the BBC that she was 16 when she went to Griffiths to discuss doubts about her faith. | Waiving her right to anonymity, Julie McFarlane told the BBC that she was 16 when she went to Griffiths to discuss doubts about her faith. |
| "That was when the first of what was a year-long of sexual assaults happened," she said. | "That was when the first of what was a year-long of sexual assaults happened," she said. |
| She recalled how her mother would say: "It's so kind of the minister to offer you driving lessons, you must go with him." | She recalled how her mother would say: "It's so kind of the minister to offer you driving lessons, you must go with him." |
| Ms McFarlane said: "He would find a place, you know, a deserted lane, a beach, a cornfield in one case, different places where there was nobody around, and again he would force himself upon me." | Ms McFarlane said: "He would find a place, you know, a deserted lane, a beach, a cornfield in one case, different places where there was nobody around, and again he would force himself upon me." |
| Speaking in court, Ms McFarlane described herself as a "chaste" teenager, she said that she had trusted Griffiths because he was a "man of God" and added: "Who would believe me? He was a minister who held a position of authority." | Speaking in court, Ms McFarlane described herself as a "chaste" teenager, she said that she had trusted Griffiths because he was a "man of God" and added: "Who would believe me? He was a minister who held a position of authority." |
| 'Controlled my life' | 'Controlled my life' |
| A statement from the second victim read to the court described how she attempted to commit suicide during the abuse and continued to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). | A statement from the second victim read to the court described how she attempted to commit suicide during the abuse and continued to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). |
| She stated: "The abuse has caused profound irreparable damage and intense ongoing trauma. | She stated: "The abuse has caused profound irreparable damage and intense ongoing trauma. |
| "He knew I was vulnerable but despite this he used his position to control my life." | "He knew I was vulnerable but despite this he used his position to control my life." |
| In a statement, the Diocese of Chichester said both victims had showed "great courage in coming forward". | In a statement, the Diocese of Chichester said both victims had showed "great courage in coming forward". |
| Expressing its "deep sense of sorrow", it added: "All cases of sexual abuse are a great betrayal. | Expressing its "deep sense of sorrow", it added: "All cases of sexual abuse are a great betrayal. |
| "Where it has happened, it must be brought into the light so that justice can be done." | "Where it has happened, it must be brought into the light so that justice can be done." |