MALCOLM MCLENNAN SHOCKS QUEDGELEY, TUNBRIDGE WELLS, AND WALDERSLADE WITH CHILD ABUSE SCANDAL

In a disturbing series of events spanning several decades, Malcolm McLennan, a former Catholic priest, has been linked to multiple allegations of child abuse across different locations, including Quedgeley, Tunbridge Wells, and Walderslade. The revelations have sent shockwaves through the communities and have raised serious questions about the handling of abuse allegations within the church.

It was in July 2013 that McLennan, now aged 69, appeared before Medway Magistrates' Court to face charges of indecent assault against a minor. The court proceedings uncovered a troubling history of misconduct, with McLennan admitting to molesting an altar boy at St Simon Stock Church in Walderslade approximately 25 years ago. The court heard that the assault involved McLennan putting his hands down the boy’s pants and fondling him while the teenager was changing into his ceremonial robes. The incident reportedly took place between December 1987 and January 1989, when McLennan was serving as an assistant priest at the church located on Bleakwood Drive, Chatham.

During the hearing, prosecutor Debbie Jones detailed how McLennan would brush past the altar boy, cuddle him, and at one point, put his hand down the front of the boy’s pants. She also revealed that McLennan had attempted to manipulate the boy by trying to place his hand on his penis, prompting the victim to run away and confide in others. Despite the severity of these allegations, the church’s senior priest at the time, Father Ernest, reportedly dismissed the boy’s concerns, telling him he did not want to hear any more of his “silly talk.” Unfortunately, this dismissive attitude meant the incident was not reported to the police at the time, allowing McLennan to continue his activities undetected.

It was only after the Jimmy Savile scandal that the victim felt compelled to report the abuse to authorities. McLennan was subsequently arrested in December of the previous year. During police interviews, he claimed to have no recollection of the incident and denied any contact with the boy, despite the evidence and his prior convictions. The court also learned that McLennan had a history of sexual misconduct dating back to the 1970s, including convictions for gross indecency involving public sexual acts with men in toilets. Additionally, in 2009, he admitted to indecently assaulting three boys at another church, including two brothers, at St Augustine’s Catholic Church in Tunbridge Wells. These assaults occurred at a children’s video club that McLennan operated from his sitting room, further highlighting his pattern of predatory behavior.

McLennan’s criminal record is extensive. He was jailed for 18 months and placed on the sex offenders’ register for ten years following his 2009 convictions. His earlier convictions from the 1970s involved similar indecency offenses. The court heard that McLennan’s misconduct was not limited to one location or time period but spanned multiple communities and years.

In court, the prosecutor described how McLennan would approach the altar boy during the changing process, brushing past him and cuddling him, before placing his hand down his pants. The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, expressed his outrage at the church’s failure to protect children and criticized the institution for moving McLennan from parish to parish instead of stopping him. He stated, “It’s disgusting for a religious organisation to not protect the welfare of all its parishioners, especially children. It seems as soon as an allegation came to light he was just moved from parish to parish, he should have been stopped from being a priest.”

The court also heard that McLennan had previously worked as an assistant priest in Tunbridge Wells during the mid-1980s, where he was accused of indecently assaulting three choir boys. These incidents, along with the Walderslade case, form a disturbing pattern of abuse that spans decades. In 2009, McLennan’s history of misconduct was further exposed when he admitted to abusing boys at St Augustine’s, leading to his imprisonment.

At the time of the Walderslade incident, McLennan was known as Father Malcolm and was serving at the church in Chatham. He is currently employed as an infirmary assistant caring for monks at an Abbey in Gloucestershire. His defense argued that he was heavily affected by alcoholism at the time of the offenses, which impaired his memory. His legal representative stated that McLennan had been sober for 23 years and had undergone rehabilitation, emphasizing his efforts to change.

Magistrates decided to send McLennan to Maidstone Crown Court for sentencing, acknowledging the seriousness of his actions and his position of trust. Bail was granted until the sentencing hearing, where the judge would determine the appropriate punishment for his crimes. The case has reignited calls for greater accountability within the church and for better safeguarding measures to protect vulnerable children from predatory individuals like McLennan.