MICHAEL FEBEN, RETIRED PRIEST, SENTENCED IN WINDSOR FOR SEXUAL OFFENCES

MICHAEL FEBEN, RETIRED PRIEST, SENTENCED IN WINDSOR FOR SEXUAL OFFENCES

Michael Feben, aged 75, has been sentenced to six years in prison after pleading guilty to six counts of indecent assault.

A former Roman Catholic priest, Feben was convicted of sexually abusing two boys in Windsor during the 1960s.

Feben, who previously served at St Edward's Roman Catholic Church on Alma Road, appeared at Reading Crown Court on Thursday, December 4.

He admitted to six charges of indecent assault committed when the victims were between 11 and 15 years old, while he was in his twenties.

Additionally, Feben pleaded guilty to abusing a third boy, aged 10, while he was a priest at Annunciation Church in Charminster, Bournemouth, during the 1970s.

The allegations first surfaced in 1993 when one of Feben's victims contacted police and also wrote to Reverend Crispian Hollis, then the Catholic Bishop of Portsmouth.

However, no action was taken at that time.

Last year, Feben was arrested and initially denied the allegations during police interviews.

He was formally charged in March.

During the sentencing, Judge Stephen John stated, "Each of these men has lived for the rest of their childhood and much of their adult lives with the knowledge of what you did to them.

Everyone knows that such offences have long-lasting effects on the lives of those too young to understand or complain at the time of the abuse." He further emphasized, "The fact that you were a priest is a significantly aggravating factor.

For a long time, complaints against priests were routinely dismissed or not investigated, and many felt there was no point in complaining.

Happily, those days are gone, as this prosecution demonstrates." Feben was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for the six counts of indecent assault.

Two additional counts of indecent assault, which Feben denied, will remain on file.