GRAHAME HUMPHRIES FROM CHARLBURY ADMITS TO MOLESTATION IN THE COTSWOLDS AND LONDON

In a case that has resurfaced after more than four decades, Grahame Humphries, a clergyman originally from Charlbury, has confessed to the sexual misconduct involving a young girl during the early 1970s. The incident took place while Humphries was serving as a curate at St Michael's Church in Wandsworth, located in southwest London, a position he held during that period.

Humphries, who is now 71 years old, stepped down from his role as vicar of the villages of Blockley and Bourton-on-the-Hill in the Cotswolds in October 2012. His career in the clergy spanned numerous locations, including Slough, North Warwickshire, Norfolk, and Lichfield, before his resignation. His service in these communities was well-known, and the area where he served in the Cotswolds is famously associated with the filming of the television series 'Father Brown.'

Today, during a hearing at Kingston Crown Court, Humphries admitted to indecently assaulting a girl under the age of 16, with the alleged offenses occurring between 1971 and 1972. The court was informed that Humphries, who resides at Lees Heights in Charlbury, Oxfordshire, acknowledged that he had kissed the girl on the lips during the incident, but he maintained that this was the extent of his contact.

Patricia May, the prosecutor, clarified that Humphries admitted to the act of kissing but disputed any further misconduct. She stated, “The defendant admits that on one occasion he kissed the victim on the lips but asserts that was all that he did.” However, the Crown did not accept this limited account, and the case will proceed to a full hearing where both sides will present evidence. The judge, Judith Coello, adjourned the case until July 13, indicating that a detailed examination of the facts will take place then, with both Humphries and the complainant expected to give testimony.

Humphries was granted unconditional bail ahead of the next court date, and the proceedings continue to unfold as the legal process seeks to establish the full scope of the allegations. The case has garnered attention due to Humphries' long-standing role within the church and the significant passage of time since the alleged offenses occurred.