BRIAN RUTLEDGE SENTENCED TO NINE YEARS IN PRISON IN GOSPORT FOR CHILD ABUSE IN READING

Predatory pensioner Brian Rutledge, aged 82 and of St Georges Walk, Gosport, has been sentenced to nine years in prison after being convicted of serious sexual offenses. The convictions include two counts of indecent assault on a boy under 16 and one count of buggery with a boy under 16, following a trial at Reading Crown Court.

All the offending took place during the 1980s when Rutledge was a parish priest at a church in Reading. During his time at the church, he established and managed several boys’ clubs. His victim, who was then 15 years old, was a member of one of these groups when he was targeted.

The victim recounts that during a stay at Rutledge’s home, he was sexually abused and raped. He described waking up to find Rutledge sitting on his bed, who then told him he had been ‘chosen’ before climbing into bed and molesting him.

After the assault, Rutledge reportedly told the boy not to tell anyone, suggesting that keeping it secret was good practice for when the boy might become a priest.

Thames Valley Police has stated that the attack left the victim so traumatized that he abandoned any plans of entering priesthood. Detective Constable Neil Callaway of the Child Abuse Investigation Unit at Reading police station commented, ‘What Rutledge did was a complete abuse of his position within the Catholic church and the local community. He had no concern for his victim, only for his own gratification. He is now in prison where he belongs.’

He added, ‘The victim has shown incredible strength and bravery in speaking about what happened to him, and I would like to thank him for doing so. This conviction shows that when victims come forward and report crimes such as these, they will be believed, and no matter what the passage of time, they will get justice.’