A disgraced former Peterborough priest who once dismissed allegations of child sexual abuse as “nonsense” has had his prison sentence extended by 11 years after admitting to a series of further historic sex offences involving boys and girls dating back almost 50 years.
Dennis Finbow, 77, a former parish priest at Our Lady of Lourdes in Dogsthorpe, appeared at Cambridge Crown Court on Friday (10 October), where the judge added 11 years to the sentence he is already serving for similar offences.
Finbow was previously jailed for six and a half years in 2023 for sexually abusing a young girl during the 1980s while serving in Peterborough. He is now serving a combined sentence that will keep him behind bars well into his late 80s.
Decades of abuse
The latest case involved five victims – three girls and two boys – with offences taking place between 1974 and 1991 in Cambridgeshire, including Peterborough and St Neots.
Finbow admitted 15 counts of indecent assault, including eight offences against girls under 14, four against boys under 14, two against girls under 16 and one against a woman over 16.
The abuse began before his ordination, when Finbow was a teacher, and continued after he became a priest. He targeted children he met through the Church, youth clubs and parish events.
Police said Finbow used his position as a priest to gain the trust of families, describing him as a “prominent figure” in the Catholic community who used his role to engineer opportunities to offend.
During police interviews, Finbow repeatedly dismissed the allegations as “nonsense” and claimed to be “disgusted” by the accusations — before later pleading guilty to all charges.
Dennis Finbow, 77, was convicted in early 2023 for sexually abusing a child in the 1980s while offences in the most recent case date back to 1974.
Finbow claimed all the allegations against him were “nonsense” in police interview, however, he later admitted multiple offences and on Friday (10 October), at Cambridge Crown Court, had his current sentenced extended.
He admitted touching a boy in 1974 at a school where he was teaching, prior to being ordained.
He also abused an altar boy between August 1984 and August 1985, a girl between February 1984 and February 1985, a girl between 1987 and 1991 and a third girl between 1987 and 1988.
Finbow met these victims through his work as a priest in the Catholic Church.
He admitted eight counts of indecent assault of a girl under 14, four counts of indecent assault of a boy under 14, two counts of indecent assault of a girl under 16 and one count of indecent assault on a woman over 16.
Finbow was also handed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order
‘He used his role to offend’
Detective Constable Annette Renwick, who led the long-running investigation, praised victims for their courage in coming forward.
“This has been a long and complex investigation,” she said. “I want to commend all of the victims for their patience, understanding and bravery.
“Dennis Finbow was a prominent figure within the Catholic Church in Cambridgeshire during the 1980s and 1990s – someone parishioners looked up to.
“At the time, he was seen to do a lot of good: running youth and football clubs and taking part in charity events. But he used his role in society to create opportunities to offend.
“We never want to believe that someone in a position of trust could harm a child, yet unfortunately it does happen.”
The Diocese of East Anglia cooperated with police throughout the investigation, providing access to records and taking their own safeguarding measures.
Victims’ lawyers praise “bravery” of survivors
Lawyers representing survivors of Finbow’s abuse have welcomed the extended sentence, calling it an important step towards justice after decades of silence.
Leigh Day, which represents several of the complainants, said Finbow’s conviction came about only because of the determination of victims who refused to let the abuse go unpunished.
Andrew Lord, a partner at the firm, said: “It is down to the bravery of so many survivors that Dennis Finbow has finally been made to answer for his crimes.
“Having spoken to a number of complainants, it’s clear that Finbow was an opportunistic and prolific abuser of children.
“Today’s sentence may bring these criminal proceedings to a close, but for many of the victims this is only a step in a much longer journey of recovery.
“I hope that those institutions through which Finbow was able to abuse children recognise the need to apologise to the survivors involved.”
Lord added that some victims are now considering further legal action against institutions that may have failed to protect them.
Laicised by the Pope
In December 2024, the Peterborough Telegraph reported that Pope Francis had formally laicised Finbow – removing his clerical status and all rights as a priest – following his 2023 conviction.
The Bishop of East Anglia, Rt Rev Peter Collins, confirmed the decision at the time, saying: “As I promised when Dennis Finbow was convicted and jailed last March, the diocese has followed the process of canon law.
“He has now been laicised, which means his clerical status and rights as a Catholic priest have been removed by His Holiness Pope Francis.
“We wish to reiterate our willingness to listen and support anyone affected by abuse. All victims of child sexual abuse are in my prayers.”
Finbow had been retired from active ministry since 2001. During his time at Our Lady of Lourdes, he was credited with increasing the congregation from 200 to 1,000 within two years – a period when some of his most serious offending took place.
Police investigation and earlier warnings
Finbow was first investigated by Cambridgeshire Police in 2001 after an allegation of indecent assault, but the Crown Prosecution Service decided not to proceed. The Diocese of East Anglia then carried out its own internal investigation, during which Finbow was suspended from his post at St Joseph’s Church in St Neots.
At the time, parishioners were said to have been “in tears” after learning he had been removed from his duties.
Despite his suspension, Finbow continued to present himself as a respected member of the community until new allegations surfaced two decades later, leading to his eventual prosecution.
Justice has finally caught up
Detective Constable Renwick added: “We would encourage anyone who has been affected by sexual abuse, no matter how long ago, to come forward and report it. You will be listened to and supported.”
If you need help
Anyone affected by sexual abuse can contact Cambridgeshire Police through their website or reach out to Safe Spaces, a confidential support service for survivors of Church-related abuse, on 0300 303 1056
