Jailed: Abusive Yorkshire vicar whose victim saw him as a father figure

David Fletcher on his appointment as vicar of Wetwang

David Fletcher, 63, was working as a headteacher at a Bradford school in the late 1980s when he committed the offences of indecent assault against the child at a smallholding in Queensbury, West Yorkshire.

A jury heard last month how the vulnerable boy had seen the defendant as “a father figure”, but he was abused while he was helping to tend goats at Fletcher’s smallholding.

Fletcher, of Pulham Lane, Wetwang, Driffield, was found guilty by the jury of two “specimen” allegations of indecent assault, but he was cleared on a further six charges involving the same complainant.

His career path changed in 2001 when he was ordained into the Church of England, but he had not worked as a vicar since being charged with the offences.

Barrister Rodney Ferm, for married Fletcher, said not only had he lost his good name amongst people whom he had served for many years, but he had now lost his livelihood and his home.

“Mr and Mrs Fletcher are looking for a home outside the Driffield area because his reputation there is savagely undermined by the effects of the jury’s verdicts in this case,” said Mr Ferm.

The indecent assaults involved kissing the boy as well as touching him over his lower clothing and under his shirt.

The Recorder of Bradford Judge Roger Thomas QC was told that Fletcher had undergone a triple heart bypass in 2015 and was still taking medication and his wife was not in good health.

“This is not a man who is ever likely to offend again. The past 30 years are a witness to that in their own powerful way,” submitted Mr Ferm. “The last 30 years are a witness to the fact that he is not a risk.”

Judge Thomas accepted that the conviction would have very considerable consequences for Fletcher and his family and added: ”It will bring to an end, presumably, your life as a minister in the church.”

Judge Thomas said it was clear that the abuse happened “on a good number of occasions” over a period of about 18 months.

Fletcher will now be subject to registration as a sex offender with the police.