Ealing Abbey priest jailed for child abuse

Father David Pearce, of Ealing Abbey, in Charlbury Grove, was sentenced today (2) for committing ten counts of indecent assault and one sexual assault between 1972 and 2007.

The majority of the abuse took place while he was a teacher at St Benedict's School in Eaton Rise, Ealing, a post he has since retired from.

Four of the victims were under 16 at the time.

Pearce was barred from acting as a priest in 2005 after a victim took civil proceedings against him. It followed an unsuccessful attempt to build a criminal case against him because of a lack of evidence.

Further victims came forward and Pearce was arrested in January 2008.
Crown Prosecution Service lawyer Robert Wendt said: "Thanks to the courage of the victims we have successfully managed to bring the perpetrator to justice many years after he had, no doubt, thought he had got away with it.

"David Pearce is a predatory paedophile whose actions have impacted forever on the lives of his victims. I hope that today's sentencing provides them with some comfort and I would urge anyone who has suffered sexual abuse to come forward knowing that the Police and Crown Prosecution Service will take you seriously."

Martin Shipperlee of Ealing Abbey said they were undertaking an independent review to prevent anything similar happening again.

He said Pearce's future as a priest is being reviewed and added: "I would like to apologise in every way I can to the victims and everyone else affected by this case.

"I will remember in my prayers all those lives who have been troubled by David Pearce's actions."