Second jail term for 'predatory' former priest

A former Roman Catholic priest and Gatwick airport chaplain was a "practising and predatory paedophile" who systematically abused children in his care throughout his 20-year ministry, the Old Bailey was told yesterday.

Michael Hill, 68, was jailed for five years by Judge Christopher Moss. The judge added: "You employed a considerable degree of planning and cunning in gaining the trust of the parents of the children you abused. I can think of no greater ... breach of trust."

At an earlier hearing, Hill, of Lingfield, Surrey, pleaded guilty to six offences of indecent assault against three boys aged 10 to 14. The offences took place between 1969 and 1987.

Hill was jailed in 1997 for five years for 10 offences against eight boys. The later charges arose from admissions he made at a sex offenders' clinic. The judge ordered that a further eight charges involving three victims who came forward after the first court case should remain on the file.

The Archbishop of Westminster, Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, gave Hill the Gatwick post in 1985, when the Cardinal was Bishop of the Arundel and Brighton diocese. At Gatwick, Hill abused a wheelchair-bound boy of 13 while he was suspended from the priesthood after allegations of abuse.

David Jeremy, for the prosecution, said Hill was ordained as a priest in 1960. "Throughout his ministry, he systematically abused the children of families to whom he was a spiritual guide," he said.

Despite complaints, the priest was moved from parish to parish. He received therapy in 1981 but then committed two of the assaults for which he was jailed yesterday.

In 1983, he was suspended and given treatment. He was given the Gatwick post shortly afterwards.