A former Church of England priest has been handed a significant prison sentence for a catalogue of historic sex offences described by a judge as 'appalling'.
Reverend Michael Brock, 80, was found guilty of 13 counts of indecent assault and one count of gross indecency with a child following a trial at Inner London Crown Court. The charges related to the systematic abuse of two young boys over a period spanning the 1970s and 1980s.
Judge Munro KC condemned Brock's 'campaign of rape' against one victim and the sexual abuse of another, noting the profound and lifelong damage inflicted. The court heard how Brock, then a priest in Sheffield and later in Cheshire, used his position of trust and authority to prey on the children.
One victim was abused from the age of nine, with the assaults continuing for several years. The second victim was targeted in his early teens. The devastating impact of Brock's actions was laid bare in victim impact statements, which described decades of trauma, mental health struggles, and broken relationships.
Detective Constable Jack Barcas, the investigating officer from South Yorkshire Police, praised the immense courage of the victims in coming forward. 'Brock manipulated and abused the trust placed in him as a priest to carry out these offences,' he stated. 'I hope this sentence brings some sense of justice to the victims.'
The Church of England confirmed Brock was removed from ministry and suspended immediately after his arrest. A spokesperson said: 'We are deeply shocked and saddened by these offences and our thoughts are with all those affected.'
Brock was sentenced to 10 years in prison and will be subject to the sex offenders register indefinitely.
