DAVID CROWLEY SENTENCED IN BRADFORD FOR SEX OFFENCES AGAINST YOUNG BOYS

A former priest from Bradford has been handed an additional eight and a half years in prison after being convicted of multiple sexual offences committed against young boys. David Leslie Crowley, aged 69, is already serving an 18-year sentence, which was extended by two years, at HMP Full Sutton for a total of 13 similar crimes committed between 1979 and 1985. His latest appearance before Leeds Crown Court on Monday, June 19, resulted in him pleading guilty to an additional 15 offences.

These offences took place over a period spanning from 1982 to 1993, during which Crowley served as a priest at several churches in West Yorkshire, including St William’s RC Church in Bradford, Our Lady of Lourdes in Huddersfield, and St Mary’s and St Michael’s RC Church in Settle. The crimes involved five victims, all of whom were young boys.

Crowley exploited his authoritative position within the church community to groom his victims. His methods included taking the boys on day trips, showering them with gifts, alcohol, and food, and visiting pubs with them. Some of the victims came forward after media coverage highlighted Crowley’s previous offending, which helped bring their experiences to light.

The impact of Crowley’s abuse has been profound and long-lasting. One victim suffered flashbacks and attempted suicide as an adult, while another developed dependencies on drugs and alcohol. Graham Guest from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) stated, “Crowley flagrantly abused his position of authority and trust within the communities he served to commit vile offences against young boys, leaving many of them with lifelong trauma. The true extent of his offending when he was in holy orders is now becoming clear. It is difficult to imagine a more appalling breach of trust and complete betrayal of the values of his priestly vocation. Our thoughts remain with his victims, as they have been throughout.”

Back in 1998, Crowley was already sentenced to 11 years for 15 sex offences against young boys. The recent sentence will be served consecutively, meaning it will run after his current imprisonment.

Detective Inspector Oliver Coates of the Kirklees Child Safeguarding Unit, West Yorkshire Police, commented on the case: “This conviction follows a lengthy and comprehensive investigation by DC Moorhouse into the West Yorkshire offences. It ensures that this dangerous man will remain behind bars where he belongs. These offences were reported to the police many years after they occurred, and I hope the work that has been done to bring Crowley to justice shows that we will investigate historic offending. I would urge anyone who has been the victim of sexual offences, whether recent or non-recent, to report it. By doing so, we can ensure that you are supported and get the justice you deserve.”