Latest news with #PiotrAntoniGlas
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Priest jailed for historic child sex abuse
A former Catholic priest in Jersey has been jailed for five years for sexually abusing a child. Piotr Antoni Glas committed the 11 sexual abuse offences between 2004 and 2007 while he was a priest in the island. Jersey's Royal Court also gave Glas, 61, a lifelong restraining order, preventing contact with the victim, and ordered him to pay more than £12,000 towards the cost of the victim's ongoing therapy. In April, Glas was found guilty of three counts of gross indecency with a child. The court heard how Glas progressively groomed his victim before abusing his position of trust to satisfy his sexual desires. In delivering the sentence, the Deputy Bailiff Robert MacRae said it was "difficult to think of a more serious breach of trust than your offending in this case". On Monday, Crown Advocate Carla Carvalho, prosecuting, described Glas's "planned and deliberate" grooming. She said Glas started by showering the victim with gifts, building up to the point where he would invite the victim to his house before using the victim's feet to satisfy his sexual "foot fetish". Ms Carvalho also described an isolated incident where Glas wrestled with the victim, putting their face to his groin and their feet on his face. She read from a doctor's report that outlined the extreme psychological harm and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) the victim had suffered as a result of the abuse. She also said Glas had groomed the victim's family by supporting them spiritually and financially so that they trusted him "implicitly". She said Glas' elevated spiritual and social status in the church meant the victim was dismissed when they tried to raise the abuse. This meant the victim became a subject of blame which compounded their original trauma, she said. Throughout the hearing, Glas sat in the court's dock with his eyes closed, muttering under his breath. He stood with his eyes closed when his sentence was read out. Glas was also put on the sex offenders list for 10 years. In April, the Bishop of Portsmouth apologised for the abuse and pain Glas's victim had suffered. Det Con Caroline Foord said the victim had shown "immense courage" to report the abuse. She said: "Glas's behaviour was manipulative, abusing his position of trust. "As a result, his offending behaviour remained unchallenged for a prolonged period of time and he took advantage of opportunities to groom the victim for his own sexual gratification." The children's charity NSPCC said Glas had "exploited his position of trust". A spokesperson said: "The victim in this case has shown great bravery in speaking out and helping to ensure Glas faced justice for his crimes. "Child sexual abuse can have a devastating and lasting impact on the victims, which is why it is so important that anyone who suffers such abuse knows that if they speak out, they will be listened to and supported." More news stories for Jersey Listen to the latest news for Jersey Follow BBC Jersey on X and Facebook. Send your story ideas to Bishop apologises for priest's child abuse Priest found guilty of gross indecency with child Jersey Royal Court
ITV News
02-06-2025
- ITV News
Catholic priest jailed after sexually abusing vulnerable teenage boy he claimed was 'possessed'
A former Catholic priest has been sentenced to five years in prison by Jersey's Royal Court after he was found guilty of historic sexual offences against a child. Piotr Antoni Glas, 61, committed three counts of gross indecency against a teenage boy between 2005 and 2007 while he was a trusted member of the clergy. The court heard how Glas groomed the victim and his family, "showering them with gifts" to gain access to the child before performing sexual acts in front of him to satisfy his own fantasies involving feet. During the trial, the court heard that Glas carried out 'exorcisms' on his victim and would 'playfight' before carrying out the sexual acts. The victim's parents witnessed their son being held down by two men while he struggled and were left "shocked and appalled", thinking they were acting in his best interests to allow Glas to treat him as he was "possessed". During sentencing and speaking directly to Glas, Deputy Bailiff Robert MacRae said: "You offered friendship, financial and spiritual support... showering him with gifts and attention. "You abused the trust this child, his mother and father had in you, not only once but on many occasions to satisfy your own sexual needs. "You did so knowing what you were doing was wrong, knowing that the child in your care was vulnerable and he'd been entrusted to you in your care, in your home, because the family looked up to you as their priest." He added: "You arranged for a series of exorcisms, on the footing that the child you had abused was possessed. You went to his parents independently and persuaded them that he was possessed and should be subjected to the brutal process." Alongside the five-year jail term, the court also ordered Glas to have no contact with his victim for the rest of his life and to pay £12,200 in compensation for counselling costs. Detective Constable Caroline Foord from the States of Jersey Police added: "Glas's behaviour was manipulative, abusing his position of trust. "As a result, his offending behaviour remained unchallenged for a prolonged period of time and he took advantage of opportunities to groom the victim for his own sexual gratification.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Yahoo
Bishop apologises for priest's child indecency
The Catholic bishop responsible for Jersey has apologised after a former island priest was found guilty of three counts of gross indecency with a child. On Wednesday, Jersey's Royal Court found Piotr Antoni Glas guilty of the offences, which occurred between 2004 and 2007 while he was a priest in the island. The Bishop of Portsmouth, the Right Reverend Philip Egan, said he wanted to express "deep sorrow" and "profound apologies" for the abuse and pain the victim suffered. Glas is due to be sentenced on 2 June. Bishop Egan said the victim would have carried pain "over the course of their life" as a consequence of the priest's "grave offences". "Our thoughts and prayers are with them and their family," he said. The Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth covers three counties in the south of England, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Wight. Bishop Egan said the diocese was "committed to ensuring the safety and protection" of all people within its parishes and church communities. "There are robust safeguarding standards, policies and procedures in operation within the diocese and indeed throughout the Catholic Church in England and Wales," he said. He added: "We report all allegations of abuse to the relevant statutory authorities, and we will continue our commitment to provide safe places for everyone." Bishop Egan encouraged anyone seeking support in relation to abuse or harm they had suffered to contact the diocese safeguarding team. Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@ Jersey Royal Court Priest found guilty of gross indecency with child
BBC News
11-04-2025
- BBC News
Bishop apologises for priest's child indecency
The Catholic bishop responsible for Jersey has apologised after a former island priest was found guilty of three counts of gross indecency with a Wednesday, Jersey's Royal Court found Piotr Antoni Glas guilty of the offences, which occurred between 2004 and 2007 while he was a priest in the Bishop of Portsmouth, the Right Reverend Philip Egan, said he wanted to express "deep sorrow" and "profound apologies" for the abuse and pain the victim is due to be sentenced on 2 June. Bishop Egan said the victim would have carried pain "over the course of their life" as a consequence of the priest's "grave offences"."Our thoughts and prayers are with them and their family," he Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth covers three counties in the south of England, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Egan said the diocese was "committed to ensuring the safety and protection" of all people within its parishes and church communities."There are robust safeguarding standards, policies and procedures in operation within the diocese and indeed throughout the Catholic Church in England and Wales," he said. He added: "We report all allegations of abuse to the relevant statutory authorities, and we will continue our commitment to provide safe places for everyone."Bishop Egan encouraged anyone seeking support in relation to abuse or harm they had suffered to contact the diocese safeguarding team.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Yahoo
Priest found guilty of gross indecency with child
A former Catholic priest in Jersey has been found guilty of three counts of gross indecency with a child. Piotr Antoni Glas's offences occurred between 2004 and 2007 while he was a priest in the island, the Royal Court in Jersey was told. Glas, 61, was remanded in custody until Friday, when a date for sentencing will be fixed. Jersey Police said the victim had shown "a tremendous amount of courage" to report the abuse. The police officer in charge of the investigation said after the verdicts that Glas used his position to groom his victim and others who trusted him. Det Con Caroline Foord said the case highlighted "the serious nature of an abuse of authority". She also said it showed "the importance of holding individuals accountable for their actions, regardless of their position or standing in the community". She said: "Glas used his position, as an influential member of the Catholic clergy, to groom his victim and others who trusted him. "His offending behaviours were both manipulative and controlling in nature." She added that the victim, who cannot be named, had shown a "tremendous amount of courage" to report the abuse "not only to seek justice to what had happened to them in the past, but also to safeguard others in the future". "We do not underestimate the significant challenges faced by the victim from the time the offending occurred, to reporting this matter to the police and throughout the investigation," she said. She added that Jersey Police would do "their utmost to bring those offenders to justice". The guilty verdicts and two further non guilty verdicts to the same offence followed unanimous decisions from the jury. Follow BBC Jersey on X, and Facebook. Send your story ideas to Former island priest faces gross indecency charges Jersey Royal Court
