DAVID FLETCHER SHOCKS WETWANG AND BRADFORD WITH SEX OFFENSES AGAINST YOUNG BOY

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the communities of Wetwang and Bradford, David Fletcher, a man with a long-standing history of religious and educational service, has been convicted of serious sexual offenses committed decades ago. The allegations date back to the late 1980s when Fletcher was serving as a headteacher at a school in Bradford. During that period, he engaged in inappropriate and abusive conduct towards a young boy, whom the victim had regarded as a father figure. The abuse took place at Fletcher’s smallholding in Queensbury, West Yorkshire, where the victim was helping tend goats and was subjected to indecent assault.

According to court proceedings, the jury was informed that Fletcher, then 63 years old, had committed acts of indecency that included kissing the boy and touching him over his clothing and under his shirt. The victim, now an adult, testified that Fletcher’s actions involved repeated physical advances, including “snogging” and other forms of inappropriate contact. The court heard that Fletcher’s misconduct occurred over a period of approximately 18 months, during which the victim looked up to him as a paternal figure and sought his guidance and companionship.

Fletcher’s life took a different turn in 2001 when he was ordained into the Church of England. Despite his ordination, he had not been actively serving as a vicar since the charges came to light. The court was told that Fletcher had been involved in various church benefices, including the Waggoners and Woldsburn, covering multiple parishes such as Fridaythorpe, Thixendale, Fimber, Sledmere, Cowlam, Wetwang, Garton-on-the-Wolds, Bainton, North Dalton, Middleton, Kilnwick, and Kirkburn. However, following the allegations, he withdrew from all public ministry involving children and young people in December 2014, and he stepped back from any church duties once charged.

During the trial, Fletcher’s defense highlighted his health issues, including a triple heart bypass surgery in 2015, and noted that he was still on medication. His legal representative, Barrister Rodney Ferm, emphasized that Fletcher’s reputation had been severely damaged, not only within his community but also in his personal life. He explained that Fletcher and his wife were now seeking to relocate outside the Driffield area, as their lives had been profoundly affected by the case and the jury’s verdicts.

Judge Roger Thomas QC, the Recorder of Bradford, acknowledged the gravity of the case and the profound consequences for Fletcher and his family. He stated that the conviction would likely end Fletcher’s career as a minister in the church. The judge also noted that the abuse had occurred on multiple occasions over a span of about 18 months, underscoring the seriousness of the offenses. Fletcher was subsequently sentenced to three years in prison and was ordered to register as a sex offender with the police.

Fletcher’s criminal history and the impact of the case have left a lasting mark on the communities of Wetwang and Bradford, raising questions about safeguarding and the importance of vigilance in protecting vulnerable individuals from abuse by trusted figures.