Minister jailed for sex attacks

A former Baptist minister has been jailed for three-and-a-half years for sexually abusing schoolgirls.

Nigel Westley, 44, admitted abusing six girls, aged between nine and 13, to a senior minister last year and then turned himself into police.

The offences took place between January 2002 and May 2004, while he was working at Harvest Rock community church, Forest Gate in east London.

Police also found 108 child pornography images on his computer.

Westley, a father of three, had pleaded guilty to four counts of indecent assault, three counts of sexual assault, two counts of sexual activity with a child and one count of possessing indecent images in April.

'Deep remorse'

Christopher Amor, prosecuting, told Snaresbrook Crown Court: "The defendant had started an extramarital affair with a girl who was 17 when he met her. It seems he had taken this person under his care.

"This affair finally came to light and he was confronted. He proceeded to admit his sins of adultery.

"Eventually he also admitted to a senior minister he had sexually touched two children. He attended the police station and said he had come to 'admit all'."

James Hasslacher, defending, said Westley had "shown a deep remorse".

He said: "It is not the case that he used the church to arrange young girls to be in his company so he may prey on them. His first and foremost mission is to the church.

"It was deceitful but it was done without threat or use of force. So often young people in these circumstances are put under great fear of what would happen to them if they were to tell."

Case officer DC Harry Walsh-Jones said he wanted to speak to anyone else who may have been a victim of Westley, particularly anyone living in Walsall or Wolverhampton, where Westley had worked before moving to London.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/6692551.stm

Published: 2007/05/25

Former Baptist minister's sex abuse

26 April 2007, Newham Recorder, London

A FORMER Baptist minister faces years behind bars after he admitted abusing six schoolgirls while working at a church.

Nigel Westley, 44, a minister at the Harvest Rock Community Church in Bignold Road, Forest Gate, confessed to a senior colleague who turned him in.

All the children were between nine and 13 years old when they were abused between January 2002 and May 2004

Some of the victims were members of his congregation.

When police searched Westley's home they found a computer containing 108 pornographic images of children, Snaresbrook Crown Court heard.

Westley, who is originally from Walsall, had worked for an evangelical group Urban Expression.

Police believe there may be more victims who have yet to come forward.

Westley was remanded in custody for psychiatric reports after he admitted nine offences of sexual abuse and one of possessing indecent images.

He is due to be sentenced on May 25.

http://www.newhamrecorder.co.uk/content/newham/recorder/news/story.aspx?brand=RECOnline&category=newsNEWHAM&tBrand=northlondon24&tCategory=newsnewham&itemid=WeED26%20Apr%202007%2009%3A21%3A48%3A013