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Jail for former vicar, after sexual abuse victim uses eye tracker technology to give evidence (17 March 2017)

Date: 17/03/2017
Duncan Lewis, Crime Solicitors, Jail for former vicar, after sexual abuse victim uses eye tracker technology to give evidence

A former vicar who abused a choirboy in his care more than 35 years ago has been convicted on the evidence of a man suffering from motor neurone disease, who used Eyegaze eye tracker technology to give evidence.

Eye-tracker technology works by translating the blinks of the user into words.

The 47-year-old victim died of motor neurone disease in a hospice before the court hearing which saw the perpetrator of the abuse convicted.

His condition had made him unable to speak or write, but his dying wish was to give evidence to secure a conviction against the man who had abused him when he had served as a choirboy at St Matthias' Church in north London.

Former vicar Cyril Rowe, 78, was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court on Friday, 10 March, after being found guilty of three counts of indecent assault, which took place at the church in Stoke Newington, Hackney, north London between 1979 and 1981.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) applied for special measures to enable the 47-year-old victim to give his evidence during the trial from his hospice over a video link.

He also had the help of an intermediary – and eye-tracking technology helped him describe how Rowe would lock the church door, pin him down and sexually abuse him, before apologising and giving him £1.

Cyril Rowe was sentenced to four years in jail for the abuse. The court heard he had been convicted in 1996 of abusing another choirboy in his care.

After sentencing, CPS London reviewing lawyer David Nixon said:

“The way Cyril Rowe's victim was allowed to use this eye-tracking technology over video link shows how the CPS can help victims and witnesses who might otherwise struggle to give evidence in court.

“This man was determined to seek justice against the vicar who had abused him all those years ago – and these special measures enabled that to happen.

“They included a live video link into the court from his hospice bed, an intermediary to help him on the day – and help for his sister to use a video link, too, as she wanted to stay close to him in his final days.

“As a result, the jury were able to hear his powerful testimony – which has ultimately led to the convictions and today's sentence.”


Duncan Lewis Crime Solicitors

Duncan Lewis Criminal Solicitors can advise at any stage of a charge involving sexual offences against children or indecent images of children – including advising child care professionals in a position of trust or responsibility on any allegations made against them concerning indecent images or sexual offences against children.

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