Woman alleges sex activity with chaplain at Christmas

A woman who claims she was sexually abused by a school chaplain in the South East when she was a secondary school student yesterday told the High Court how she met him in his car one Christmas Eve and sexual activity took place.

The now 28-year-old said she was in transition year or fifth year at the time and the chaplain gave her a teddy as a Christmas present.

It was the fourth day of case where she is suing for damages alleging between 2004 and 2007 she was repeatedly and wrongfully physically and sexually assaulted, falsely imprisoned and sexually abused and subjected to sexualised behaviour by the then Catholic chaplain and teacher in her secondary school. She has sued the priest as well as the school and the local bishop. They have all denied the claims. The school contends it is not vicariously liable for alleged actions of the priest and contends the diocesan bishop is liable. The woman is also seeking aggravated damages against the ex-priest, who denies all claims.