by Gabriella Swerling and Fiona Parker, Telegraph
Jonathan Fletcher, 84, censured in ‘trial of facts’ after he was deemed too ill to enter a plea
A former Church of England vicar exposed by The Telegraph seven years ago for carrying out naked beatings has been found guilty.
Jonathan Fletcher, 84, a former vicar at Emmanuel Church, Wimbledon, was a “superstar” evangelical preacher, celebrated for his intellect and charisma.
However, in December 2019, a Telegraph investigation revealed how bullying and intimidation were rife throughout his reign, and played out via a toxic combination of power, prayer and punishment.
Now, seven years after the allegations emerged, a jury has returned a verdict over claims he indecently assaulted a young man over a period of more than two decades while exerting “long-term control” over him through spiritual discipline and humiliation.
The victim, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, said that he was left suicidal by the violent beatings and told how the vicar encouraged them to masturbate together.
Jurors at Kingston Crown Court delivered their verdict of “he did the act” on eight counts of indecent assault alleged to have taken place between 1973-1999, including allegations of repeated assaults over multiple periods of time.
The jurors had heard a “trial of the facts” against Fletcher, after he was deemed unfit to stand trial because of dementia.