CHARLES DICKENSON SHOCKS CREWE AND CHESHIRE WITH CHILD SEX ABUSE COVER-UP AND CONVICTION

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Crewe and the wider Cheshire area, Charles Dickenson, an 89-year-old former vicar, has been convicted of multiple counts of child sexual abuse spanning over four decades. The case revealed a troubling history of misconduct, compounded by the Church of England’s failure to act on prior warnings and its subsequent promotion of Dickenson despite allegations against him.

Charles Gordon Dickenson, known as Gordon, was found guilty of abusing a young boy who attended Christ Church in Latchford, Cheshire. The abuse took place in various locations associated with the church, including the vicarage, church hall, and sacristy, where Dickenson exploited his position of trust. The court heard that the victim was subjected to repeated assaults, with the first incident occurring in the church hall’s boiler room, where Dickenson lured the boy under the pretense of a boiler issue. The assault was followed by further abuse in the vicarage and sacristy, with Dickenson deliberately seeking out the boy on multiple occasions.

Despite the church being alerted twice about Dickenson’s inappropriate behavior, no action was taken at the time. Instead, the church promoted him to a more senior role at another parish after a female organist reported seeing him embracing the young boy. This promotion, and the church’s failure to investigate or discipline him, allowed Dickenson to continue his misconduct for years. It was only in 2017, during an investigation into allegations against former Bishop of Chester Victor Whitsey, that police interviewed the victim and uncovered the extent of Dickenson’s abuse.

The court proceedings revealed that Dickenson, who was then in his 40s, believed he could act without consequence, feeling emboldened by his religious role. Judge Steven Everett, presiding over the case at Liverpool Crown Court, condemned his actions, stating, “You did a terrible thing. You were the priest at a parish church in Cheshire. You were in your early 40s and at that time the child was not even a teenager. For your perverted desires, you took advantage of that little boy.” The judge emphasized that Dickenson’s abuse was particularly heinous given his role as a man of God, entrusted with moral guidance and spiritual leadership.

During sentencing, Judge Everett highlighted that Dickenson’s offenses occurred on four separate occasions, with the impact on the victim described as profound and damaging. The victim, who was present in court, was assured by the judge that he bore no shame, as it was Dickenson who should be ashamed. The court also noted that Dickenson showed little remorse in a pre-sentence report, and it was a matter of regret that justice was delayed due to the church’s prior cover-up and promotion of the offender. As part of his sentence, Dickenson was ordered to register as a sex offender for life and was sentenced to 27 months in prison.

In a related development, the case uncovered a pattern of neglect and misconduct within the Church of England, which had been alerted twice to Dickenson’s behavior but failed to take appropriate action. The church’s failure to act allowed him to continue his abuse and even advance in his ecclesiastical career. The victim’s statement expressed feelings of shame and confusion, revealing the long-lasting psychological scars inflicted by the abuse. The case has raised serious questions about the church’s safeguarding policies and its responsibility to protect vulnerable individuals from predatory clergy. The community of Crewe and the surrounding Cheshire region now grapples with the aftermath of this disturbing revelation, as justice has finally been served against a man who betrayed the trust placed in him by his congregation and community.