MICHAEL FEBEN FROM ISLE OF WIGHT AND WINDSOR SENTENCED FOR HISTORIC CHILD SEX OFFENCES

In a case that has spanned decades and involved multiple locations, Michael Feben, a former Catholic priest with ties to Windsor and the Isle of Wight, has been sentenced to six years in prison for committing serious sexual offences against young boys during the 1960s and 1970s.

The court heard that Feben, now 75 years old, pleaded guilty to six counts of indecent assault. These offences were committed against three boys aged between 10 and 15 years old. Four of these assaults took place in Windsor during the 1960s, specifically at St Edward’s Church located on Alma Road. The remaining offences occurred at different times and locations, including the Isle of Wight and Bournemouth.

Specifically, the assaults at Windsor’s St Edward’s Church happened between 1965 and 1967. The victims, who have since grown into adulthood, endured a gross betrayal of trust by Feben, who was in his twenties at the time and serving as a priest. The abuse was carried out under the guise of his religious role, exploiting the trust placed in him by the young boys and their families.

The sentencing took place at Reading Crown Court, where Feben was handed a six-year prison term after admitting to the charges. The court detailed the sentences for each count, which included multiple overlapping periods of imprisonment. For the assaults at Windsor, Feben received a two-year sentence for indecent assault, along with an additional 40 months for other offences committed during the same period, with some sentences running concurrently. Other counts included 16 months and 32 months for assaults on the same victims during 1965 and 1966, with some sentences served concurrently and others consecutively. Additionally, offences committed on the Isle of Wight between January and December 1966 resulted in a 16-month sentence, which was to run alongside other sentences but in sequence.

Further offences at Annunciation Church in Charminster, Bournemouth, during 1978 and 1979, resulted in an eight-month sentence, which was served concurrently with other counts. It is important to note that two additional counts of indecent assault, which Feben has denied, remain on file and were not part of the plea.

Detective Constable Francesca Worley of the Thames Valley Police Child Abuse Investigation Unit, based at Windsor Police Station, commented on the case, emphasizing the breach of trust involved. She stated, “Feben was a priest and aged in his twenties at the time of these offences and continued to offend for decades. This was a gross breach of his position of trust, as he took advantage of young boys who attended his parish. These victims are now men, who have waited a long time to see justice done for the abuse they suffered.”

The investigation and subsequent sentencing serve as a reminder that justice can be pursued regardless of the passage of time. Authorities hope that this case encourages other victims of abuse to come forward, assuring them that their reports will be taken seriously and thoroughly investigated, no matter how much time has elapsed since the offences occurred.