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Lateness penalty for Leeds tormentor of a female vicar
An obsessive parishioner who launched a vicious campaign of harassment towards a female vicar, accusing her of 'stealing the affections' of an elderly local canon, was detained in custody when he arrived late in court for sentencing.
Nigel Abraham, 50, was a member of the congregation when he started harassing Reverend Christine Wilson.
Leeds Magistrates Court had heard that Abraham had become 'obsessed' with Mrs Wilson, and accused her of 'sexually corrupting' an elderly canon.
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Mark Hague, prosecuting, told the court that police had warned Abraham about his behaviour in 2008 when Mrs Wilson was vicar at Goring-by-Sea in Sussex.
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However, in October last year, Abraham, of Glensdale Terrace, East End Park, Leeds, called Mrs Wilson, who became Archdeacon of Chesterfield this year, and told her: "Sex and ambition, that's what you are about."
In a second phone conversation with Alan Wilson, Abraham referred to the Wilsons' terminally-ill daughter Sarah.
The court heard how Abraham told Mr Wilson that he would "be happy when his daughter died because he would be vindicated."
He told him: "The reason your daughter will die is because your wife is very wicked."
The couple's daughter died a few weeks later.
In a voicemail message left on a church office answer machine, Abraham likened Mrs Wilson to a 'porn star in Chesterfield'.
Abraham was found guilty of harassment at trial in July.
The case returned to Leeds Magistrates for sentencing on Wednesday when he was an hour-and-a-half late for the hearing.
Abraham, who failed to provide a reason for his late arrival, was detained in custody until he appeared again in the afternoon.
The case was adjourned for psychiatric reports and the accused was granted conditional bail.
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Weather for Leeds
Saturday 11 February 2012
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