WILLIAM MIDDLETON FROM FEATHERSTONE: SHOCKING CHILD SEX ABUSE IN YORKSHIRE CHURCH

In October 2007, a disturbing case of child sexual abuse emerged involving William Middleton, a church warden based in Featherstone, West Yorkshire. The case revealed a pattern of misconduct that persisted despite warnings and concerns raised by church officials and community members.

Michael Matthews, an assistant priest at the church, voiced serious concerns about Middleton’s inappropriate behavior towards young girls. He observed that Middleton was being 'unnecessarily physical' with children during church activities. Despite these observations, the only response from the church authorities was a cautionary instruction from Reverend Nicholas Clews, who advised Middleton not to be alone with children. This minimal intervention was intended as a safeguard, but it proved to be insufficient.

Regrettably, Middleton ignored this warning, and it was nearly a year before the full extent of his misconduct was uncovered. The revelation came when the mother of one of Middleton’s victims reported her suspicions to the police, prompting an investigation that eventually led to his arrest. The court proceedings uncovered that Middleton had committed multiple acts of sexual abuse, including abusing a girl during a church service. He admitted to four counts of sexual activity with a child and three counts of sexual assault, actions that resulted in his sentencing to three years in prison.

Judge Kerry Macgill delivered a stern judgment, condemning Middleton for exploiting his position of trust within the church to carry out his heinous acts. The judge remarked, “You have cloaked yourself in the church’s respectability and you took advantage of that position of trust.” She further warned Middleton that only the sound of the jail door closing would serve as a deterrent, implying that prison was the only thing that might prevent him from reoffending.

Prosecutor Robin Frieze explained that Michael Matthews had harbored concerns about Middleton’s behavior for approximately a year, particularly regarding his conduct towards several young girls. When Matthews raised these concerns with Reverend Clews at St Thomas’s in Featherstone, he was told that “Yorkshire people are fairly tactile and he shouldn’t worry too much.” This dismissive response reflected a failure to recognize the severity of Middleton’s actions.

During the trial, it was revealed that Middleton’s offenses against four girls under the age of 14 ranged from slapping them on the bottom to groping inside and outside their clothing. The case highlighted a pattern of predatory behavior that exploited the trust placed in him by the church and the community.

Following the conviction, a spokesperson for the Church of England’s Diocese of Wakefield stated that Middleton had been checked and cleared through the Criminal Records Bureau before his appointment. The church also suspended him immediately once the allegations came to light. The spokesperson emphasized that although some informal concerns had been raised previously, there was no reason to suspect inappropriate behavior at the time.

Reverend Clews later expressed his deep sorrow for the suffering endured by the victims and their families. He acknowledged that such cases are extremely rare but emphasized that they represent a profound betrayal of trust. Middleton, who remains on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life, will carry the consequences of his actions for the rest of his life, serving as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and safeguarding within community institutions.