The judge presiding over the case of the Ven. George Granville Gibson, has sentenced the former Archdeacon of Auckland to twelve month’s imprisonment for abuse. The sentenced was handed down on 31 Oct 2016 by Judge Christopher Prince at the Durham Crown Court (pictured). On 4 Aug 2016 a jury found Gibson guilty of two accounts of indecently assaulting two men in the 1970s and 1980s. He was found not guilty of five further charges of sexual assault including abusing an inmate in confinement at the Medomsley Detention Centre. In a statement released after sentencing, the Bishop of Durham, the Right Reverend Paul Butler,said: “There are no excuses whatsoever for what took place. Abuse is a terrible crime and a grievous breach of trust, which has lifelong effects. This is a matter of deep shame and regret.” Bishop Butler has written to Gibson’s victims apologizing on behalf of the church for the former archdeacon’s actions and for the church’s failure to respond promptly to their complaints. “The Diocese of Durham is committed to making the church a safer place for all and has clear procedures in place but we are aware we can never be complacent,” Bishop Butler’s statement said. “As I announced after Mr Gibson’s trial, I have asked the Chair of the Diocesan Safeguarding Management Group to commission a full and independent review of all the circumstances surrounding this case, so that we can learn from what has happened.”
