A retired Church of England vicar took advantage of the hospitality of kind-hearted parishioners, who fed him while his wife was pregnant, by sexually abusing their 14 year-old daughter.
Grahame Leslie Humphries, 71, of Lees Heights, Charlbury, Chipping Norton finally admitted molesting the teen over four decades later and has received eight months imprisonment, suspended for two years.
He pleaded guilty at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court to one sample count of indecently assaulting the girl between September 21, 1971 and September 21, 1972.
Humphries was a married curate at the time and worked at St. Michael's Church, Earlsfield south-west London and went onto become vicar of Blockley and Bourton-on-the-Hill, Gloucestershire until 2012.
Prosecutor Mr. Max Hardy told the court: “The victim, now fifty-eight years-old was fourteen at the time and she and her parents were parishioners in the parish where Mr. Humphries was the curate.
“At time came when his wife was away from home while she was pregnant and under the care of a midwife and the victim’s parents and others parishioners ensured he was taken care of, inviting him into their homes for meals.
‘While in their home and when her family were out of the room the defendant kissed the victim and put his hands in her great area above her clothing.
“This occurred more than once.”
Humphries would pick-up the teen in his car unannounced from the local train station and he also bought her vinyl records and took her to lunch.
He pounced in the car when when driving her back from a Surrey camp. “On the way back the defendant pulled over and an incident of kissing and touching took place for a number of minutes.
“The defendant turned up at the family house unexpected on a number of occasions, once in particular when the girl had glandular fever.
“She was alone and he asked to go to her room and in her room asked her to take her clothes off, insistent is one way of putting it.
“She has the strength of character to tell him to leave.
“She was distressed by what had occurred and when her mother returned she found her crying and her father spoke to the defendant.”
Humphries ignored the family’s request to confess to the parish priest and nothing more happened until - prompted by the Jimmy Savile scandal - the victim reported him.
“These incidents did have a serious effect on the victim,” added Mr. Hardy. “She wrote to him in 1993 and told him how his conduct had seriously effected her relationship with men.
“The victim has had many, many years counselling for what happened to her.”
The victim, who was in court with members of her family, was abused again in her youth by a second man, who was never prosecuted.
Judge Paul Dodgson told Humphries, who currently needs crutches for a debilitating foot condition: “You did something very wicked. You took advantage of your position of trust and took advantage of this girl of fourteen.
“By one way or another you ensured you were alone with her and kissed her and put your hands on her breasts over her clothing.
“On one occasion you isolated her in her bedroom and asked her to take her clothes off.
“She has lived wit these events for forty-five years and they have blighted her life. She had the misfortune to encounter two abusers in her young life.
“Your actions have caused her considerable damage.
“The other side of this case is since then you have led a blameless life and the references speak of your good works.
“There are no reported incidents or a history of suspicion. You have discharged your duties as a priest in an appropriate way.
“There is no suggestion you are a danger to the community, children or women and your conduct over the last forty-odd years is evidence of that.”
Humphries refused to accept being put on a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which would restrict his access to children, including his grandkids.
Judge Dodgson agreed announcing: “There’s nothing in the pre-sentence report that makes me think there is a danger.”
The judge remarked on the change of attitudes to sex offences since the early 1970’s. “If the victim’s father was confronted today with your behaviour I think he wouldn’t just tell you to go away and never come back.”
Humphries will have to sign the sex offenders register for five years, pay £500 costs and be under probation supervision for two years.
The judge refused an application for compensation from the victim.
His lawyer Miss Charlene Sumnall said Humphries’ wife Mary was in court and his children knew about the case.
She said his career spanned parishes all over the country and he had positively effected the lives of “hundreds and hundreds” of people.
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