Ex-priest to be extradited

A former Roman Catholic priest, who has been living in London for 13 years, is to be extradited to New Zealand to face 19 charges of child sex abuse.

Alan Woodcock, 55, who had been living at Crystal Palace, south London, had claimed it would be unjust or oppressive to send him back because many of the charges related to events of more than 20 years ago.

He had been arrested by officers from the Metropolitan Police on 5 August 2002 at Luton Airport as he returned from a holiday in Greece.

On Friday, Lord Justice Simon Brown at the High Court said in his judgment "there can be no cut-off point beyond which extradition must inevitably be regarded as unjust or oppressive."

Heathrow therapist

The judge said he also took into account that the charges related to "grave offences" - mostly against minors involving a serious abuse of Mr Woodcock's position as a priest and teacher.

"It seems to be in any event puzzling in present times why someone should be able to improve their chances of escaping trial by travelling abroad and then changing their circumstances in their new country of residence."

Mr Woodstock became a priest in 1972 and during the 1980s was a teacher at St Patrick's College, Silverstream, Wellington.

He moved to London in 1990 and trained as an adult therapist before taking a job counselling passengers and staff at Heathrow Airport.

He has not practised as a priest since 1995 and gave up the priesthood last year.