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TERENCE BANKS SHOCKS CHICHESTER AND HAMMERSMITH WITH 16-YEAR JAIL SENTENCE FOR CATHEDRAL ABUSE
In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the communities of Chichester and Hammersmith, Terence Banks, a 63-year-old man with a history of grooming and abusing young boys, has been sentenced to 16 years in prison for his heinous crimes. Banks, who once served as a steward at Chichester Cathedral, exploited his trusted position within the church to prey on vulnerable children attending various church functions over a span of nearly three decades.His criminal activities date back to 1972, and over the years, he molested a total of 12 boys. The gravity of his offenses was laid bare during a three-day trial at Lewes Crown Court, where a jury found him guilty of serious sexual assault involving a 13-year-old boy, with the abuse occurring between January 1971 and December 1973. Despite his vehement denial of these specific charges, Banks had previously admitted to committing 31 sexual offenses against boys and young men, including indecent assaults and more severe sexual crimes.
Judge Richard Brown, presiding over the case, delivered a stern sentence and a powerful condemnation of Banks’ manipulative conduct. He stated, “You presented yourself to children and their parents as a kindly, helpful and genuine person. Of course, we now know that in reality you were a manipulative, wicked, serial sexual abuser of young men and boys. You used the cathedral activities as a cloak to cover your targeting of potential young victims.”
The prosecution, led by Philip Katz QC, painted a grim picture of systematic grooming and abuse that spanned nearly 30 years. Katz detailed how Banks would offer alcohol, take boys on meals out, and even organize trips to London, including tours of the BBC studios, to lure and manipulate his victims. The court heard harrowing accounts of the mental trauma inflicted upon two of Banks’ older victims, one of whom described feeling “dirty, sick, angry and almost suicidal” as a result of the abuse. Another victim suffered a mental breakdown and is now unable to work.
Evidence revealed that Banks maintained residences in both Hammersmith, West London, near the BBC, and near Chichester Cathedral. It was at his Chichester home that he would often show boys pornographic videos before molesting them, further illustrating the calculated nature of his predatory behavior. The investigation was notably triggered by one of Banks’ most recent victims, now 18 years old, who confided in his girlfriend about the abuse. Concerned for other potential victims, he approached the police, which led to the uncovering of Banks’ extensive criminal history.
The victim recounted how the abuse had devastated his life, leading him to heavy drinking and emotional turmoil, and causing confusion about his sexuality. His courageous decision to speak out marked the beginning of the police investigation, which uncovered decades of abuse and grooming.
During the trial, Banks’ defense, represented by Sonia Woodley QC, argued that Banks himself had been a victim of abuse as a child, having suffered at the hands of a teacher and other adults. She suggested that his lack of love from his father contributed to his vulnerability and his subsequent actions.
Following the sentencing, a 32-year-old man, one of Banks’ victims, issued a statement on behalf of all those affected. He criticized the church’s response, noting that while Banks received support from the church after his arrest, no assistance was offered to the victims during this difficult period. He emphasized that the victims were targeted within the cathedral environment, which should have been a place of safety and decency but instead became a site of betrayal.
He concluded with a warning to others, stating, “This sentence will shoot a warning bolt across anyone who has committed such offences – your days are numbered. We stand as one to show that unity works.”
As part of his punishment, Banks will remain on the sex offenders’ register for life, ensuring ongoing monitoring and restrictions to protect the community from further harm.