DAVID PALMER SHOCKS WARWICK WITH SEXUAL ABUSE OF TEENAGE BOY AT LOCAL CHURCH

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the Warwick community, David Palmer, an 81-year-old lay reader associated with a local church, was sentenced to prison for a series of serious sexual offenses committed against a teenage boy during the 1990s. The case only came to light after the victim, now in his 40s, came forward to report abuse he had endured as a young boy, which ultimately led to Palmer's arrest and subsequent conviction.

Palmer, who resides on Woodhouse Street in Warwick, appeared before Warwick Crown Court where he pleaded guilty to four counts of indecent assault and two counts of gross indecency with a child. The court heard that the offenses took place at two different addresses, one in Warwick and another in Hatton, where Palmer engaged in inappropriate and abusive behavior towards the young boy.

Prosecutor Andrew Wallace detailed that the victim, described as a vulnerable individual, was subjected to Palmer’s misconduct during the 1990s when Palmer was serving as a lay reader at St Paul’s Church. The abuse was not reported until the victim, now an adult, approached the police to disclose that he had also been abused by another man from a different Warwick church, Alan Baker, who was a former assistant verger at St Mary’s Collegiate Church.

Following the initial report about Baker, who was convicted earlier this year and sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison, the victim revealed that he had also been sexually abused by Palmer when he was approximately 14 or 15 years old. During police interviews, the victim described Palmer’s behavior as more overtly abusive than that of Baker, highlighting the degree of control and manipulation Palmer exerted over him.

Mr. Wallace explained that Palmer engaged in grooming tactics, telling the boy he wanted to help him prepare for future sexual relationships and to help him grow. The abuse involved Palmer touching the boy indecently on multiple occasions, both at his residence in Warwick and in Hatton. The victim was also coerced into performing similar acts on Palmer and was made to perform oral sex on him. On one particularly disturbing occasion, Palmer manipulated the situation to make it appear as if the boy was about to have sex with him, only to claim it was a lesson on the risks of such behavior.

When questioned about the incidents during his arrest, Palmer initially claimed ignorance about whether he had had a sexual relationship with the boy. He later attempted to justify his actions by suggesting that the youth had a crush on him and that he, Palmer, had fallen for it, implying that it was the boy who sought out sexual activity.

In sentencing, Recorder Anthony Potter acknowledged Palmer’s frail health, which he said would make imprisonment difficult for him. However, the judge emphasized that Palmer’s guilty plea, despite some reluctance to be fully candid, was a significant factor in the decision. The court condemned Palmer’s actions as profoundly serious, noting the damaging impact such behavior has on victims and the wider community.

Recorder Potter stated, “Your offending is so serious that it demands an immediate custodial sentence. You and individuals like you have continued to have an adverse effect on people involved in religious communities across the country, through such reprehensible behavior.” The court’s decision underscores the gravity of Palmer’s crimes and the ongoing need to protect vulnerable individuals from similar abuse within religious settings.