SOUTHAMPTON, England — A church minister in Britain has been sentenced to life in prison after admitting 35 counts of child abuse, including two charges of raping an 11-year-old boy.
A crown court in Southampton, England, ordered Simon Thomas locked away at his trial July 28 after hearing that he used Internet chat rooms to “groom” his victims. Thomas, who has been suspended by the United Reformed Church pending disciplinary proceedings, used “a mixture of flattery and obscenity” and the social skills he learned as a priest to ensnare dozens of children, Judge Jeremy Burford said.
Police said officers were still working through computer records found at Thomas’ home and feared they may discover up to 300 more victims. Thomas is married and had served as a minister for the past 10 years. Burford said he had led a “double life,” deceiving his family, his church and the congregation in south England that he had served. (TAB)
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