FRANCIS WARD FROM EDGBASTON ESCAPES PRISON FOR CHURCH-BASED SEX OFFENCES IN KINGSLAND AVENUE, CHAPELFIELDS

In a case that has shocked the local community, Francis Ward, a man with a troubling history of sexual offenses, has avoided a custodial sentence despite admitting to multiple serious crimes committed during his time as a volunteer at All Souls Roman Catholic Church in Kingsland Avenue, Chapelfields. Ward, aged 65 and residing in Granville Square, Edgbaston, Birmingham, was found guilty of abusing two young boys between the years 1985 and 1991, a period during which he held a position of trust within the church community.

Ward’s role at All Souls placed him in close contact with vulnerable children, which he exploited to carry out indecent assaults. The court heard that he committed six separate charges of indecency against one boy and additional offenses against another. The incidents included a disturbing episode where Ward lifted a seven-year-old boy onto a church pew and assaulted him, an act that the victim described as ‘fumbling’ before Ward simply walked away. This particular incident only came to light after the second victim, who had been subjected to Ward’s abuse from around the age of eight, finally reported the matter to the police in November 2014.

The second victim recounted that Ward had interfered with him on multiple occasions at All Souls, often using the back of his hand to quickly touch the boy, which the young victim found ‘weird’ but did not fully understand at the time. The court also heard that Ward had sexually abused another boy on several occasions at his family’s home during the late 1980s. These offenses led to Ward’s previous imprisonment in 1991 for 18 months and his subsequent dismissal from his church duties.

Further allegations revealed that between 1988 and 1999, Ward served as a server at a Catholic church in Handsworth, Birmingham. During this period, he assaulted a girl by grabbing and squeezing her breasts, which resulted in a six-month jail sentence in 2003. Additionally, in 1999, Ward approached and indecently assaulted an unknown woman on the street, leading to a probation period of three years. Despite these convictions, Ward continued to have contact with children and the community, raising concerns about ongoing risks.

Following the latest allegations, Ward was arrested and interviewed in December 2014 and again in January of the following year. During these interviews, he chose to remain silent, refusing to comment on the accusations. His defense lawyer, Graham Henson, acknowledged Ward’s guilt but emphasized that Ward claimed to have limited memory of the offenses, suggesting that if the boys’ accounts were accurate, he likely committed the acts. Henson argued that if Ward had been prosecuted earlier for these offenses, his sentence might have been more severe. He also highlighted that Ward had maintained a period of good behavior, which he believed should be considered in the sentencing.

Judge Andrew Lockhart QC, presiding over the case at Warwick Crown Court, expressed his strong disapproval of Ward’s actions. He pointed out that Ward’s offenses took place in a sacred space where children should have felt safe, and that his abuse had profoundly damaged the victims’ faith and trust. The judge acknowledged that a custodial sentence would have been justified, given the gravity of the crimes, but ultimately decided that Ward should be given a chance to address his offending through a community order. As part of this order, Ward is required to participate in a three-year sex offender group work program and to register as a sex offender for five years.

In his sentencing remarks, Judge Lockhart emphasized the importance of Ward confronting his distorted thinking and underlying issues that led to his offending. He also imposed strict restrictions, including a ban on working with children and a sexual harm prevention order that prohibits Ward from having unsupervised contact with any minors. The court’s decision reflects a cautious approach aimed at protecting the public while giving Ward an opportunity to rehabilitate.