MORECAMBE MAN GODFREY BAGNALL SENTENCED FOR INDECENT ASSAULT ON BOY IN HIS CHURCH

In a case that has shocked the community of Morecambe, Godfrey Bagnall, a 57-year-old resident of Arnside Crescent, has been convicted of serious sexual offenses involving a young boy who was a member of his church congregation. Bagnall, who held the position of elder and was also a pioneer for the Jehovah's Witnesses, admitted to three counts of indecent assault against the boy, beginning when the child was only eight years old.

During the court proceedings, it was revealed that the victim, now an adult, had struggled with substance abuse, which was directly linked to the abuse he endured during his childhood. The court heard that the trauma inflicted by Bagnall had a lasting impact on the victim's life, leading him to turn to drugs as a coping mechanism.

Following the allegations and the victim's complaint, Bagnall was initially de-fellowshipped from the Jehovah's Witnesses community, a disciplinary action that temporarily excluded him from church activities. However, he was later reinstated into the congregation, a decision that drew criticism and concern from those aware of the case.

Defense lawyer Mr. Stuart Denny argued that Bagnall and the boy had maintained a close relationship, which he claimed had been taken too far. The judge presiding over the case, Mr. Justice Newman, expressed disappointment in Bagnall's actions, stating,