Ealing Abbey Priest Arrested Over Abuse Claims

Allegations of sexual assault made against former teacher

A priest at Ealing Abbey has been arrested following allegations of sexual assault. Police raided the abbey in Charlbury Grove on Friday last week and took the 66-year-old man to a west London police station for questioning before releasing him later the same day - bailed to return to a West London police station in May.

The police's child abuse investigation team is looking into the allegations. A police spokesman said: "We can confirm that police received allegations on 15th January of sexual assault. The allegations relate to incidents between 2006 and 2007."

Ealing Abbey founded the school in 1902 and monks act as trustees. Fr. Pearce was head of the junior school before he retired.

David Pearce, who retired from St Benedict's School 15 years ago, was arrested at his home in Ealing Abbey.

The allegations were made on January 15 and relate to a string of alleged offences dating back to 2006, believed to include charges of sexual "grooming". They were reported to a teacher at St. Benedict's School although the incidents did not occur at the school and David Pearce was not a associated with the school at the time of the alleged offences.

School authorities insisted that they acted promptly when they learned of the accusations.

"As soon as the principals of the school were made aware of the allegations, they put them in the hands of the authorities," said the school's solicitor Tony Nelson. "The school has behaved impeccably."

February 8, 2008