GEORGE LORD OF WORCESTERSHIRE SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ABUSE AND DECEIT

In April 2012, former Worcestershire County Council leader Dr. George Lord was sentenced to four years in prison for sexually abusing a Sunday school pupil. Lord, who represented Alvechurch, was also convicted of sexually assaulting a vulnerable teenager within the council chamber during his tenure as a local authority leader.

The 79-year-old, who had previously admitted to three counts of indecent assault and was found guilty of sexual assault at trial, was ordered to register as a sex offender for life. Judge Nigel Godsmark QC remarked, "Going back to the 1970s when you were a church minister, over several years, you sexually groomed her and then exploited her for your own sexual gratification. As her minister, you should have been her protector, not her abuser. A particularly disturbing aspect is, as her minister, you later agreed to preside over her marriage."

Prosecutor Bernard Linnemann told Birmingham Crown Court that at the time of the abuse, Lord was in his mid to late 40s, married, and a prominent leader at his church. He explained that Lord’s victim, a naive girl from Droitwich attending Sunday school, had enjoyed Lord’s attention. Mr. Linnemann detailed that during church services, Lord cuddled and rubbed up against the teenager. Additionally, Lord would often drive her home, sometimes stopping at a wildlife centre where further abuse occurred, including incidents in a hide and an occasion where the victim performed a sexual act on him while driving, nearly causing a collision.

Lord reportedly told her that their relationship was "special and secret" and instructed her to keep it private. On October 27, 2010, Lord encountered a 19-year-old woman at the Council House and invited her to his office and the council chamber. There, he became overly familiar, asking personal questions, kissing her, and ultimately sexually assaulting her while she examined a plaque.

Defense attorney Brett Wilson acknowledged Lord's respectable career, including service in the Royal Air Force and as a teacher, emphasizing his positive contributions to the community.