Latest news with #AmpleforthCollege
Daily Mail
19-06-2025
- Daily Mail
'Cool monk' who groomed and sexually abused boys at £43,000-a-year private school is jailed
A monk who groomed and sexually abused boys at a £43,000-a-year Roman Catholic boarding school has been jailed for seven years. Michael James Callaghan, known as Father James, preyed on vulnerable teenage boys at Ampleforth College in North Yorkshire, a court heard. Judge Richard Clews said the actions of the 71-year-old brought 'the Catholic church and the school into serious disrepute by their nature and number.' Last month Callaghan was convicted of 12 counts of indecent assault on one pupil in the 1990s and one count of sexual assault on another teenager in the 2010s at a trial at Teeside Crown Court last month. The older victim, neither of whom can be identified, faced the priest in court as he read out a statement in which he said 'Father James was manipulative and controlling'. He said: 'My life was hijacked when I was just 14 and I have been dealing with the fallout ever since.' The court heard how the house master groomed the boy and engineered ways to be alone with him, took him out of school for meals and gave him cigarettes. The complainant said in his police interview that Callaghan would 'take on the role of a boy I had a crush on' and they would kiss and simulate sex, telling officers he 'hated the sexual bit of it' and realised as an adult it 'wasn't right'. The second victim, who had his bottom fondled by Callaghan, said it was 'weird and quite frightening' that his abuser was a priest. In a victim statement which was read out for him, he said he hoped Callaghan could be rehabilitated, and 'that he may in time examine his conscience, practice repentance and change his ways'. One of the victims had described Callaghan as a 'cool monk who was popular' at a previous hearing. David Lamb KC, defending, said Callaghan had sought medical help to address his attraction to boys before he joined Ampleforth. He added that Callaghan has no previous convictions and expressed remorse after his conviction. The judge said Callaghan, of Moortown, Leeds, would be subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and will be on the sex offender register for life. Judge Clews said right-thinking people would 'recoil in horror' at the idea of a Roman Catholic priest having a sexual relationship with a boy. The school, described in court as 'the Catholic Eton', said after the sentencing that it had 'overhauled' it safeguarding systems. In a statement, it said: 'Ampleforth College deplores abuse and offers a heartfelt apology to the victims and their families for the profound suffering and pain that Michael James Callaghan has inflicted upon them. 'We acknowledge past failings and feel great sorrow at the terrible betrayal of trust.' It said the monk left the school in 2018 and it fully supported the police inquiries which began in 2022. The statement added: 'We are committed to reporting any safeguarding concerns to the relevant authorities and supporting the police and relevant authorities in any investigation. 'We actively offer any help we can give to survivors of abuse and we commend their courage in speaking out.' After the sentencing, Detective Constable Alison Morris, of North Yorkshire Police, said: 'Not only did Callaghan abuse his position of trust in the most appalling way, taking advantage of vulnerable boys he should have been caring for and protecting, he denied his offences throughout and showed no remorse for the pain and suffering he caused.'
North Wales Chronicle
19-06-2025
- North Wales Chronicle
Monk who brought shame on Catholic boarding school jailed for abusing pupils
Michael James Callaghan, known as Father James, has been jailed for seven years for preying on the vulnerable teenage boys at Ampleforth College in North Yorkshire. Judge Richard Clews, sentencing at Durham Crown Court, told the 71-year-old: 'It cannot go unsaid that your actions have brought the Catholic church and the school into serious disrepute by their nature and number.' Following a trial last month at Teesside Crown Court, Callaghan was convicted of 12 counts of indecent assault on one pupil in the 1990s and one count of sexual assault on another teenager in the 2010s. The older victim, neither of whom can be identified, faced the priest in court as he read out a statement in which he said 'Father James was manipulative and controlling'. He said: 'My life was hijacked when I was just 14 and I have been dealing with the fallout ever since.' The court heard how the house master groomed the boy and engineered ways to be alone with him, took him out of school for meals and gave him cigarettes. The complainant said in his police interview that Callaghan would 'take on the role of a boy I had a crush on' and they would kiss and simulate sex, telling officers he 'hated the sexual bit of it' and realised as an adult it 'wasn't right'. The second victim, who had his bottom fondled by Callaghan, said it was 'weird and quite frightening' that his abuser was a priest. In a victim statement which was read out for him, he said he hoped Callaghan could be rehabilitated, and 'that he may in time examine his conscience, practice repentance and change his ways'. David Lamb KC, defending, said Callaghan had sought medical help to address his attraction to boys even before he joined Ampleforth, that he had no previous convictions and that he had expressed remorse after his conviction. The judge said Callaghan, of Moortown, Leeds, would be subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and will be on the sex offender register for life. Judge Clews said right-thinking people would 'recoil in horror' at the idea of a Roman Catholic priest having a sexual relationship with a boy. The school, described in court as 'the Catholic Eton', said after the sentencing that it had 'overhauled' it safeguarding systems. In a statement, it said: 'Ampleforth College deplores abuse and offers a heartfelt apology to the victims and their families for the profound suffering and pain that Michael James Callaghan has inflicted upon them. 'We acknowledge past failings and feel great sorrow at the terrible betrayal of trust.' It said the monk left the school in 2018 and it fully supported the police inquiries which began in 2022. The statement added: 'We are committed to reporting any safeguarding concerns to the relevant authorities and supporting the police and relevant authorities in any investigation. 'We actively offer any help we can give to survivors of abuse and we commend their courage in speaking out.' After the sentencing, Detective Constable Alison Morris, of North Yorkshire Police, said: 'Not only did Callaghan abuse his position of trust in the most appalling way, taking advantage of vulnerable boys he should have been caring for and protecting, he denied his offences throughout and showed no remorse for the pain and suffering he caused.'
South Wales Guardian
19-06-2025
- South Wales Guardian
Monk who brought shame on Catholic boarding school jailed for abusing pupils
Michael James Callaghan, known as Father James, has been jailed for seven years for preying on the vulnerable teenage boys at Ampleforth College in North Yorkshire. Judge Richard Clews, sentencing at Durham Crown Court, told the 71-year-old: 'It cannot go unsaid that your actions have brought the Catholic church and the school into serious disrepute by their nature and number.' Following a trial last month at Teesside Crown Court, Callaghan was convicted of 12 counts of indecent assault on one pupil in the 1990s and one count of sexual assault on another teenager in the 2010s. The older victim, neither of whom can be identified, faced the priest in court as he read out a statement in which he said 'Father James was manipulative and controlling'. He said: 'My life was hijacked when I was just 14 and I have been dealing with the fallout ever since.' The court heard how the house master groomed the boy and engineered ways to be alone with him, took him out of school for meals and gave him cigarettes. The complainant said in his police interview that Callaghan would 'take on the role of a boy I had a crush on' and they would kiss and simulate sex, telling officers he 'hated the sexual bit of it' and realised as an adult it 'wasn't right'. The second victim, who had his bottom fondled by Callaghan, said it was 'weird and quite frightening' that his abuser was a priest. In a victim statement which was read out for him, he said he hoped Callaghan could be rehabilitated, and 'that he may in time examine his conscience, practice repentance and change his ways'. David Lamb KC, defending, said Callaghan had sought medical help to address his attraction to boys even before he joined Ampleforth, that he had no previous convictions and that he had expressed remorse after his conviction. The judge said Callaghan, of Moortown, Leeds, would be subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and will be on the sex offender register for life. Judge Clews said right-thinking people would 'recoil in horror' at the idea of a Roman Catholic priest having a sexual relationship with a boy. The school, described in court as 'the Catholic Eton', said after the sentencing that it had 'overhauled' it safeguarding systems. In a statement, it said: 'Ampleforth College deplores abuse and offers a heartfelt apology to the victims and their families for the profound suffering and pain that Michael James Callaghan has inflicted upon them. 'We acknowledge past failings and feel great sorrow at the terrible betrayal of trust.' It said the monk left the school in 2018 and it fully supported the police inquiries which began in 2022. The statement added: 'We are committed to reporting any safeguarding concerns to the relevant authorities and supporting the police and relevant authorities in any investigation. 'We actively offer any help we can give to survivors of abuse and we commend their courage in speaking out.' After the sentencing, Detective Constable Alison Morris, of North Yorkshire Police, said: 'Not only did Callaghan abuse his position of trust in the most appalling way, taking advantage of vulnerable boys he should have been caring for and protecting, he denied his offences throughout and showed no remorse for the pain and suffering he caused.'
BBC News
19-06-2025
- BBC News
Ampleforth College monk jailed for sexually abusing two boys
A "manipulative and controlling" monk who sexually abused two pupils at a North Yorkshire public school has been jailed for seven James Callaghan, 71, abused his position of trust when he preyed on the teenage boys at Ampleforth College, a Catholic boarding school, Durham Crown Court heard. Callaghan, of Moortown, Leeds, was found guilty of 12 counts of indecent assault on one pupil in the 1990s and one count of sexual assault on another teenager in the as Father James at the college, Callaghan will be subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and will be on the sex offenders' register for life. The older victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, read out a statement during the sentencing hearing. "Father James was manipulative and controlling," he said. "My life was hijacked when I was just 14 and I have been dealing with the fallout ever since." The court heard how Callaghan groomed the boy and engineered ways to be alone with him, took him out of school for meals and gave him complainant described to police how Callaghan would "take on the role of a boy I had a crush on" and they would kiss and simulate told police he "hated the sexual bit of it" and realised as an adult it "wasn't right", the Teesside Crown Court trial previously second victim described how he suffered from nightmares and panic attacks."I looked up to him, I trusted him," he said in a statement. "He chose to violate my boundaries; first to groom me over a period of time and then to sexually assault me."Judge Richard Clews, sentencing, told the defendant right-thinking people would "recoil in horror" at the idea of a Roman Catholic priest having a sexual relationship with a boy. David Lamb KC, defending, said Callaghan had no previous convictions and he had expressed remorse for his actions after conviction. The school, described in court as "the Catholic Eton", said it had "overhauled" safeguarding systems and actively offered help to survivors of a statement, it said: "Ampleforth College deplores abuse and offers a heartfelt apology to the victims and their families for the profound suffering and pain that Michael James Callaghan has inflicted upon them."We acknowledge past failings and feel great sorrow at the terrible betrayal of trust."It said the monk left the school in 2018 and it fully supported the police investigation, which started in Con Alison Morris, of North Yorkshire Police, said: "Not only did Callaghan abuse his position of trust in the most appalling way, taking advantage of vulnerable boys he should have been caring for and protecting, he denied his offences throughout. "He showed no remorse for the pain and suffering he caused." Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Yahoo
Monk who brought shame on Catholic boarding school jailed for abusing pupils
A monk who sexually abused two pupils brought the church and the Roman Catholic boarding school where he taught into 'serious disrepute', a judge said. Michael James Callaghan, known as Father James, has been jailed for seven years for preying on the vulnerable teenage boys at Ampleforth College in North Yorkshire. Judge Richard Clews, sentencing at Durham Crown Court, told the 71-year-old: 'It cannot go unsaid that your actions have brought the Catholic church and the school into serious disrepute by their nature and number.' Following a trial last month at Teesside Crown Court, Callaghan was convicted of 12 counts of indecent assault on one pupil in the 1990s and one count of sexual assault on another teenager in the 2010s. The older victim, neither of whom can be identified, faced the priest in court as he read out a statement in which he said 'Father James was manipulative and controlling'. He said: 'My life was hijacked when I was just 14 and I have been dealing with the fallout ever since.' The court heard how the house master groomed the boy and engineered ways to be alone with him, took him out of school for meals and gave him cigarettes. The complainant said in his police interview that Callaghan would 'take on the role of a boy I had a crush on' and they would kiss and simulate sex, telling officers he 'hated the sexual bit of it' and realised as an adult it 'wasn't right'. The second victim, who had his bottom fondled by Callaghan, said it was 'weird and quite frightening' that his abuser was a priest. In a victim statement which was read out for him, he said he hoped Callaghan could be rehabilitated, and 'that he may in time examine his conscience, practice repentance and change his ways'. David Lamb KC, defending, said Callaghan had sought medical help to address his attraction to boys even before he joined Ampleforth, that he had no previous convictions and that he had expressed remorse after his conviction. The judge said Callaghan, of Moortown, Leeds, would be subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and will be on the sex offender register for life. Judge Clews said right-thinking people would 'recoil in horror' at the idea of a Roman Catholic priest having a sexual relationship with a boy. The school, described in court as 'the Catholic Eton', said after the sentencing that it had 'overhauled' it safeguarding systems. In a statement, it said: 'Ampleforth College deplores abuse and offers a heartfelt apology to the victims and their families for the profound suffering and pain that Michael James Callaghan has inflicted upon them. 'We acknowledge past failings and feel great sorrow at the terrible betrayal of trust.' It said the monk left the school in 2018 and it fully supported the police inquiries which began in 2022. The statement added: 'We are committed to reporting any safeguarding concerns to the relevant authorities and supporting the police and relevant authorities in any investigation. 'We actively offer any help we can give to survivors of abuse and we commend their courage in speaking out.' After the sentencing, Detective Constable Alison Morris, of North Yorkshire Police, said: 'Not only did Callaghan abuse his position of trust in the most appalling way, taking advantage of vulnerable boys he should have been caring for and protecting, he denied his offences throughout and showed no remorse for the pain and suffering he caused.'
