‘Devil in Dog Collar’ Priest Faces Jail for sex Abuse over 36 Years

08/12/09
Original article

LONDON - A priest, tagged as “the devil in a dog collar” by one of his victims, is facing jail for sexual assault on schoolboys over 36 years.

Father David Pearce, who was a headmaster at a school, confessed indecent assaults on five Roman Catholic pupils.

The 67-year-old was said to have attacked his final victim after being slapped with restrictions designed to prevent such conduct.

“I believe the Church are responsible - they knew what he was up to. Devil in a dog collar sums him up,” The Sun quoted one victim as saying.

Judge Andrew McDowall, at Isleworth Crown Court in West London, told Pearce “you should have acknowledged your guilt sooner”, adding a “substantial custodial sentence” was an “overwhelming possibility”.

Westminster RC diocese said: “Ealing Abbey is deeply saddened by the case.”

Pearce is due to be sentenced in October. (ANI)