Trainee Church of England minister assaulted girl, 14, at his home

Thomas De Lacey assaulted the girl when she visited his house on a church matter, police said

A trainee Church of England minister has been jailed for indecently assaulting a girl more than 30 years ago.

Thomas De Lacey, 77, was convicted of two counts of indecent assault of a girl under the age of 14, when she visited his house in Preston on a church matter, police said.

The victim kept what happened to herself until 2022, when she told the Diocese of Blackburn safeguarding team.

De Lacey was sentenced to four years.

De Lacey, now of The Hawthornes, Rufford, was convicted after a five-day trial at Preston Crown Court.

Judge Graham Knowles KC ordered him to sign the sex offenders' register for life and banned De Lacey from working with children for life.

Simon Morris, an investigation officer with Lancashire Police' said: "De Lacey carried out these offences three decades ago, but justice has finally caught up with him.

"The victim was a young girl when she was assaulted by De Lacey and she bravely came forward as an adult to report what had happened.

Lancashire Police said it was "committed to investigating allegations of this nature no matter how long ago they happened".