Convicted former priest, 77, jailed for more child abuse crimes
Dennis Finbow admitted to further offences dating back to the 1970s
Last updated 10th Oct 2025
A convicted former priest from Suffolk jailed for abusing a young girl in the 1980s while working in Peterborough has been sentenced for further child abuse crimes.
Dennis Finbow has been given an extra 11 years behind bars after admitting to more indecent assaults on boys and girls.
In July, Finbow - formerly of Martlesham near Ipswich - pleaded guilty to 15 assaults on two males and three females mostly under 16 between the 1970s and 1990s.
Finbow - wearing glasses and a dark coloured jumper - slumped against a wall as he appeared via video link from HMP Bure in Norfolk.
The court heard from victims - some of them sitting inside the courtroom during the hearing - through personal statements.
One of the victims said they "contemplated suicide" due to Finbow's actions, while others described stories of feeling "socially awkward" and "sick to the core".
Speaking directly to Finbow, judge Philip Grey said the 77-year-old "abused a position of trust, engineering situations time after time where you could be in close proximity to boys and girls.
"You knew all the time this was grossly wrong."
Judge Grey told the court Finbow caused "grave, emotional harm" to his victims and said the defendant knew "for a long time they (the victims) would not tell anyone (about his crimes)."
At the end of the hearing, the judge showed praise towards the victims for coming forward.
Speaking outside Cambridge Crown Court, DC Annette Renwick, of Cambridgeshire Police, said Finbow's actions "represent a profound betrayal of trust.
"For decades, victims were silenced but today, their voices have finally been heard.
"I commend the survivors who bravely came forward to secure justice; to those who have not yet spoken out about sexual abuse, I hope today's outcome offers reassurance that your voice matters."
After his trial, the former Catholic priest was found guilty of abusing a young girl and was jailed for six-and-a-half years.
Finbow was also told he would be placed on the sex offenders register for life.
The Diocese of East Anglia has said Finbow - who had retired as a priest - has since been stripped of his clerical status.