Full Breakdown
Bishop of Northampton Seeks Dismissal of Historic Rape Charges
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
David Oakley, 70, the Bishop of Northampton, is charged with indecent assault and two counts of rape involving a girl who was 15 at the time in the early 2000s. Oakley, who is on conditional bail, has filed an application to have the charges dismissed. He was due to enter pleas at the Old Bailey, and the dismissal hearing is scheduled for January 4.
Background & Context
Oakley was born in Stourbridge, West Midlands, and was ordained as a Catholic priest in 1980. He became Bishop of Northampton in 2020. The alleged offenses occurred when he was in his mid-40s and serving as a priest. Prosecutors say the victim first met Oakley during a pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes in south-west France, after which “they started dating.” The complaint alleges that Oakley kissed the girl at the pilgrimage and later raped her in a presbytery and on a canal boat. Oakley was charged in June after an investigation by Staffordshire Police’s rape and serious sexual offences team and has since withdrawn from public ministry following his arrest in September 2025.
Official Statements & Responses
The Crown Prosecution Service has proceeded with the case despite Oakley’s request for dismissal, and the court will consider the application on the scheduled hearing date.
Verbatim Quotes
“She recalls sex with the defendant on at least two occasions,” — Ms Madden
What’s Next
The court will hear Oakley’s application to dismiss the charges on January 4. If the application is denied, the case will continue with further proceedings at the Old Bailey.
