The Diocese of Leicester has issued a statement today regarding the sentencing of Norman Clarke, who served in the Diocese of Leicester from 1963 to 1981. Norman Clarke has been sentenced at Leicester Crown Court to 30 months imprisonment for indecent assault of a minor, dating back to his time as a teacher at a Leicestershire school in the 1970s. He had pleaded guilty to all six allegations made against him.
Norman Clarke served as a priest in the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich from 1981 to 1988. We are not aware of any complaints regarding his conduct while in post in our Diocese.
We urge anyone especially impacted by this news, or anyone wishing to give information or make disclosures of abuse connected to Norman Clarke or any other church officer, however historic and in whatever setting, to make direct contact with the Police or our Diocesan Safeguarding Officer by emailing: Karen.Galloway@cofesuffolk.org or calling 07785 621319.
For further support call 0808 800 5000 to contact the NSPCC who have a line for non-recent abuse; or email help@nspcc.org.uk or visit our website here.
Our thoughts and prayers are with all of those who have been affected by this news.