Former Bishop of Northampton faces rape and indecent assault charges from 2000s pilgrimage
David Oakley, the former Bishop of Northampton, has been charged with indecent assault and two counts of rape involving a 15-year-old girl during a pilgrimage to Lourdes.
The former Bishop of Northampton, David Oakley, has been formally charged with indecent assault and two counts of rape relating to a 15-year-old girl he allegedly abused during a pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes. The accusations involve a kiss on the pilgrimage, followed by sexual assaults on a canal boat and in a presbytery. Oakley, who was ordained in 1980 and became bishop in 2020, was arrested after a raid by Staffordshire Police’s rape and serious sexual offences team and is currently on conditional bail.
He appeared before the Old Bailey, where the next hearing is scheduled for January 4. Prosecutor Sarah Madden stated the victim remembered at least two instances of sexual activity with Oakley. The case revives scrutiny of clerical abuse within the Catholic Church in the UK.
Why it matters
The case highlights ongoing concerns about sexual abuse by senior clergy and the legal response to historic allegations.
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