The judge presiding over the trial of a Salisbury vicar for allegedly groping a female parishioner has dismissed the jury after it failed to reach a verdict
The judge presiding over the trial at the Bournemouth Crown Court (pictured) of a retired Diocese of Salisbury vicar for allegedly groping a female parishioner has dismissed the jury after it failed to reach a verdict. On 14 Oct 2015 the jury was dismissed after it could not reach a verdict in the trial of the Rev. Roy Catchpole (69) who had been charged with counts of sexual assault and one count of exposing himself to a parishioner. The prosecution alleges that between August 2013 and June 2014 Mr. Catchpole visited the home of an elderly female parishioner whilst serving as vicar of St Paul’s Church in Sherborne, Dorset. The victim claims that during these visits the vicar pulled down her pajama bottoms, touched her body and made rude comments. Mr. Catchpole, who has since retired, vigorously denied the charges. The Crown Prosecution Service has seven days in which to decide whether to refile the charges.
