'Father Jim'abused boys for 24 years, jury told

James Robinson, 73, is alleged to have committed a string of offences against six boys aged under 16 between 1959 and 1983 at a number of churches in the West Midlands.

He faces 22 charges, including five counts of buggery, two of attempted buggery, 12 counts of indecent assault and three counts of indecency with a child.

The former clergyman, whose full name is Richard John James Robinson but was known to parishioners as “Father Jim”, worked in churches in Staffordshire, Birmingham and Coventry until the mid-1980s, when he moved to California.

He was extradited from the US in August last year.

At Birmingham Crown Court yesterday prosecutor John Attwood said: “For many years Robinson was in the habit of sexually corrupting and assaulting young boys when the opportunity arose.

“His abuse remained a secret for many years as he moved from one church to another.”

The prosecutor said Robinson used his position as a priest to gain “unfettered and unlimited” access to the young boys who “caught his eye”, giving them gifts and taking them on trips in his sports car.

He said Robinson had “a dreadful weakness” for young boys but told jurors his behaviour did not appear suspicious to his victims’ families because “it was a different world back then”.

The court heard that Robinson took the boys to football matches and rock concerts, and some of them stayed overnight at the house he shared with his mother.

Robinson denies all the charges against him. The trial continues today.