A former Catholic priest has been sentenced to eleven years in prison for abusing multiple children, most of whom were under the age of 16.
On Friday, Dennis Finbow, who was already serving a six year sentence handed down in 2023 for abusing a young girl in Peterborough in the 1980s, admitted to further child abuse offences between 1975 and 1992.
The 77-year-old was sentenced in relation to 15 counts of indecent assault against five victims – three females and two males – including three who were 8 and 9 years old at the time.
Cambridge Crown Court heard powerful victim impact statements from each of the survivors, who spoke of how Finbow had “shattered the trust placed in him” and that the psychological effects of his abuse had “reverberated” through the rest of their lives, with devastating effects on their mental health, personal relationships and careers.
Judge Philip Grey told Finbow that he is a “manipulative and predatory paedophile” and that “it is difficult to imagine a greater perversion of the role that you held and the ministry you were meant to be engaging in”.
The Diocese of East Anglia said Finbow hadn’t been in active ministry since 2001. A statement on its website said the diocese had cooperated closely and fully with Cambridgeshire Police in regard to the investigation.
Bishop Peter Collins said: “I wish to reiterate our willingness to listen to and support anyone affected by abuse and all victims of child sexual abuse are in my prayers. We would encourage any victim of child sexual abuse perpetrated within the Catholic Church context to make contact either directly through our Safeguarding Office or with Safe Spaces, our Victim Support Service. Today’s sentencing confirms the validity of previous convictions and of the decision to remove Dennis Finbow from clerical office.”
Abuse lawyer Hayley Chapman-Todd from Bolt Burdon Kemp, who represented one of the survivors, said the justice was long overdue.
“Although today’s sentence will not erase the harm caused, it brings a measure of justice for Finbow’s survivors who have waited a long time to see Finbow held accountable," she said. "However the Catholic Church has questions to answer in relation to how Finbow was able to use his position to abuse children for so long.”
In addition to his custodial sentence, a Sexual Harm Prevention Order was made against Finbow.
The Catholic Church removed Finbow's clerical status following the 2023 convictions.