Vicar convicted of abusing boy is ordered to return to India
A former vicar convicted of sexually abusing a boy in India has been ordered to return to the country.
In April, Jonathan Robinson, who served in Herefordshire and formerly lived in Montgomery, was found guilty of repeatedly sexually abusing a 15-year-old boy in his care.
Robinson was a former director of the Child Care Institution and the Grail Trust, an NGO working with children on an outreach programme in Chinnamalpuram in the Tirunelveli District of India.
On April 13, Vallioor Judicial Magistrate Court, sentenced Robinson to three-years in prison and fined him 10,500 rupees, after he was found guilty of sexual abuse charges.
Robinson subsequently left the country, and in July the Tirunelveli Principal District Sessions Court ordered him to return to Iidia within two months.
The two months has now elapsed.
In a court hearing in July, Robinson's counsel filed a petition to suspend the sentences, which the prosecution’s counsel strongly opposed.
Robinson's solicitor argued that the trial court had already suspended the sentence and that he was now staying at Somerset, and undergoing treatment for an ailment.
Rejected
His defence said Robinson had been advised by the doctor not to travel to India because he was suffering from depression, hypertension and diabetes.
Principal Sessions Judge K Rajasekar rejected the request and said that the reason for not returning to India was not valid.
The order said: “This petition is allowed, and the substantive sentences of imprisonment imposed on the accused alone is suspended until the disposal of the appeal on condition that this accused shall execute a bond for 25,000 rupees with two sureties for the like sum each to the satisfaction of the Judicial Magistrate, Valliyoor.
"The petitioner shall return to India to comply with the above condition within a period of two months from the date of this order.”
The decision meant Robinson's sentence was suspended until the outcome of any attempt to appeal his conviction.
It is not clear what action will be taken by the court after Robinson's failure to comply with the order to return to the country.
An article posted on the Church Times last month claimed the victim made the allegations under duress, and a key statement was ignored by the judge.
It also states Robinson told authorities in India it was his intention to return to the UK.
