Former priest arrested on abuse charges after five year police hunt

Lawrence Soper - image Metropolitan Police

A former Catholic priest accused of historic sex offences has been returned to the UK from Kosovo, after a five-year police hunt. Lawrence Soper, 72, was arrested on his arrival at Luton Airport on Sunday. He faces nine charges of sexual offences against five boys under 16, allegedly committed over a period from 1972 to 1986 at St Benedict's School in Ealing, west London, where he taught in the 1970s and 1980s. After teaching at St Benedict's, Soper served as abbot of Ealing Abbey from 1991 to 2000.

Soper was first arrested in 2010. He was bailed, but failed to return to a London police station in March 2011. Officers from the Metropolitan Police' s sexual offences, exploitation and child abuse command had appealed for help in tracing him.

A European Arrest Warrant (EAW) was issued for him in 2012. Soper, was first arrested in Kosovo in May, under the EAW, but Kosovan courts twice blocked extradition attempts due to the fact that the country has a 30-year statute of limitations. He is due to appear at Ealing Magistrates' Court.

A spokesman for Scotland Yard confirmed the arrest and said Fr Soper was "arrested on suspicion of nine offences of sexual assault committed over a period from 1972 to 1986."

According to reports in the Kosovo press, Soper lived in the city of Pec for several years, going by the name Andrew, and had told neighbours he was writing a book.

Source: Metropolitan Police