SHOCKING CRIME: LUTON VICAR JAMES OGLEY SENTENCED FOR ONLINE CHILD SEX ABUSE PLOTS
| Red Rose Database
Luton Rapist
In October 2014, a disturbing case emerged involving Reverend James Ogley, a vicar based in Luton, who was found guilty of engaging in heinous online conversations that promoted child sexual abuse. The case revealed a series of depraved exchanges where Ogley, a married man and father of two young children, instructed a 13-year-old girl to sexually abuse her 9-year-old sister, as well as other disturbing acts involving children as young as four years old.
Authorities uncovered the extent of Ogley's online misconduct when they executed a search warrant at his residence in Hollybush Road, Luton, on January 10 of the previous year. The police, from Hertfordshire Police’s County Community Safety Unit, had received intelligence indicating that someone at Ogley's address was attempting to contact children through the Internet Relay Chat (IRC) platform, urging them to commit acts of child sexual abuse. During the investigation, officers seized Ogley's laptop, which contained chat logs revealing explicit and disturbing conversations with minors.
Ogley claimed he had not visited the chat forum for some time, and his wife stated she had not used the platform since her university days. However, the evidence collected showed otherwise. The chat logs included graphic descriptions of sexual acts involving children, with some instances involving children as young as four years old. Prosecutor Daniel Siong detailed the content, emphasizing the severity of the material, which included incestuous, sadistic, and paedophiliac sexual acts.
Among the most shocking revelations was Ogley's encouragement of a 13-year-old girl to remove her clothes and perform sexual acts on her younger sister. In other exchanges, he described sexual acts with an eight-year-old boy and discussed his own penis size with a young girl, instructing her to expose herself from her bedroom window. During conversations, Ogley also pretended to be a teenager himself, claiming to be a 14-year-old boy from Ireland, in an attempt to manipulate or deceive.
When questioned by detectives, Ogley admitted to being sexually aroused during the online chats but insisted he had never arranged to meet any of the individuals he communicated with. Despite this, police were unable to trace the identities of the minors involved in the chats. The court was told that Ogley's actions were in direct contradiction to his role as a vicar, a position that demands moral integrity and adherence to Christian teachings.
At Luton Crown Court, Ogley, aged 38, pleaded guilty to seven charges of publishing obscene material in the form of chat logs. Six of these charges related to material posted online in June 2012, with the seventh stemming from a publication in November 2012. Since his arrest, Ogley had been suspended from his duties at Saint Francis Church in Carteret Road, Luton, and faced the consequences of his actions.
Judge David Farrell QC sentenced Ogley to two years in prison. In his remarks, the judge emphasized the gravity of Ogley's misconduct, stating, “What you did was totally incompatible with the beliefs and teachings of a vicar. You are there to uphold and further Christian beliefs.” The court also heard that Ogley's personal life had been severely affected; his marriage had collapsed, he had lost his home, and he was to be dismissed from the church.
Prosecutor Daniel Siong recounted that the police had visited Ogley's home in Hollybush Road after receiving intelligence about his online activities. The investigation revealed that Ogley had been engaging in sexually explicit conversations with minors, some of whom appeared to be under 16. The chat logs detailed his discussions of performing sexual acts with children, including an eight-year-old boy, and explicit instructions to young girls to perform sex acts and expose themselves.
During interviews, Ogley admitted to being sexually aroused by the chats but denied any intent to meet the minors. The court was informed that he had taken steps to address his unhealthy sexual feelings through regular therapy sessions arranged by the church. His defense lawyer, Andrew Morton, described Ogley as a “very chastened and contrite individual,” acknowledging the seriousness of his misconduct and the loss of his career and personal life.
The Diocese issued a statement indicating that Bishop of St Albans, the Rt Revd Dr Alan Smith, would impose an appropriate penalty following sentencing, recognizing the breach of trust and the gravity of Ogley's actions, which starkly contrasted with his role as a spiritual leader.
Authorities uncovered the extent of Ogley's online misconduct when they executed a search warrant at his residence in Hollybush Road, Luton, on January 10 of the previous year. The police, from Hertfordshire Police’s County Community Safety Unit, had received intelligence indicating that someone at Ogley's address was attempting to contact children through the Internet Relay Chat (IRC) platform, urging them to commit acts of child sexual abuse. During the investigation, officers seized Ogley's laptop, which contained chat logs revealing explicit and disturbing conversations with minors.
Ogley claimed he had not visited the chat forum for some time, and his wife stated she had not used the platform since her university days. However, the evidence collected showed otherwise. The chat logs included graphic descriptions of sexual acts involving children, with some instances involving children as young as four years old. Prosecutor Daniel Siong detailed the content, emphasizing the severity of the material, which included incestuous, sadistic, and paedophiliac sexual acts.
Among the most shocking revelations was Ogley's encouragement of a 13-year-old girl to remove her clothes and perform sexual acts on her younger sister. In other exchanges, he described sexual acts with an eight-year-old boy and discussed his own penis size with a young girl, instructing her to expose herself from her bedroom window. During conversations, Ogley also pretended to be a teenager himself, claiming to be a 14-year-old boy from Ireland, in an attempt to manipulate or deceive.
When questioned by detectives, Ogley admitted to being sexually aroused during the online chats but insisted he had never arranged to meet any of the individuals he communicated with. Despite this, police were unable to trace the identities of the minors involved in the chats. The court was told that Ogley's actions were in direct contradiction to his role as a vicar, a position that demands moral integrity and adherence to Christian teachings.
At Luton Crown Court, Ogley, aged 38, pleaded guilty to seven charges of publishing obscene material in the form of chat logs. Six of these charges related to material posted online in June 2012, with the seventh stemming from a publication in November 2012. Since his arrest, Ogley had been suspended from his duties at Saint Francis Church in Carteret Road, Luton, and faced the consequences of his actions.
Judge David Farrell QC sentenced Ogley to two years in prison. In his remarks, the judge emphasized the gravity of Ogley's misconduct, stating, “What you did was totally incompatible with the beliefs and teachings of a vicar. You are there to uphold and further Christian beliefs.” The court also heard that Ogley's personal life had been severely affected; his marriage had collapsed, he had lost his home, and he was to be dismissed from the church.
Prosecutor Daniel Siong recounted that the police had visited Ogley's home in Hollybush Road after receiving intelligence about his online activities. The investigation revealed that Ogley had been engaging in sexually explicit conversations with minors, some of whom appeared to be under 16. The chat logs detailed his discussions of performing sexual acts with children, including an eight-year-old boy, and explicit instructions to young girls to perform sex acts and expose themselves.
During interviews, Ogley admitted to being sexually aroused by the chats but denied any intent to meet the minors. The court was informed that he had taken steps to address his unhealthy sexual feelings through regular therapy sessions arranged by the church. His defense lawyer, Andrew Morton, described Ogley as a “very chastened and contrite individual,” acknowledging the seriousness of his misconduct and the loss of his career and personal life.
The Diocese issued a statement indicating that Bishop of St Albans, the Rt Revd Dr Alan Smith, would impose an appropriate penalty following sentencing, recognizing the breach of trust and the gravity of Ogley's actions, which starkly contrasted with his role as a spiritual leader.