Thomas De Lacey

Thomas De Lacey, aged 77, a former trainee Church of England minister, has been convicted and jailed for historic sexual offences committed more than three decades ago. The case, which came to trial in February 2024, centred on two counts of indecent assault against a young girl who was under the age of 14 at the time of the abuse.

The offences occurred when De Lacey, then serving as a trainee minister, invited the girl to his home in Preston to help with a church-related matter. During her visit, he carried out the indecent assaults, exploiting his position of trust within the church community. The trial, lasting five days, heard detailed evidence from witnesses, including the victim, presented to the jury at Preston Crown Court.

Judge Graham Knowles presided over the proceedings and, following the guilty verdict, sentenced De Lacey to four years' imprisonment. In addition to the custodial sentence, De Lacey was ordered to sign the sex offenders' register and received a lifetime ban from working with children. The judge highlighted the severity of the historic nature of the crimes but emphasised that justice had been served after a long delay.

Simon Morris, an investigation officer with Lancashire Police’s Major Crime Review Team, commented on the conviction, stating: “De Lacey carried out these offences three decades ago, but justice has finally caught up with him.” The case was investigated by Lancashire Police, underscoring their commitment to pursuing historic abuse allegations. No further details on the exact date of the offences were disclosed, but they are confirmed to have taken place over 30 years prior to the 2024 conviction.

This conviction serves as a reminder of the ongoing efforts to address historical child sexual abuse within institutional settings, such as religious organisations. The Church of England has faced scrutiny in recent years over safeguarding failures, and this case adds to the body of evidence prompting reforms in how such allegations are handled.