Vicar 'froze at abuse'

Vicar 'froze at abuse'

Canon Davies denies a total of 14 charges

A second priest has told Cardiff Crown Court how a senior clergyman sexually abused him for 10 years, starting when he was 12 years old.

The Church in Wales vicar - who cannot be named for legal reasons - told the court he "just froze and went numb and cold" when Canon Lawrence Davies attacked him.

He alleges the abuse happened as 62-year-old Mr Davies watched pornographic videos at his Cardiff home and during revision sessions.

Mr Davies denies a total 14 sex assault charges on three boys - two of whom are now priests - over 25 years and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Videos

Last week another alleged victim - a 12-year-old boy - told the court Mr Davies who is originally from Briton Ferry, kissed him during a visit for tea and biscuits.

The schoolboy told the court how Mr Davies asked him to sit on his knee after he went to the Cardiff vicarage and then asked him not to say anything after the kiss.

"He made me a cup of tea and asked me if I wanted biscuits," he told the court.

"Davies put me on his lap and kissed me on the head."

The jury heard Canon Davies later told the boy: "Don't tell anyone about this."

The boy admitted he went to police after hearing the cleric was facing other charges of sexual assaults against two former parishioners who went on to become priests.

They have claimed that Mr Davies carried out attacks at the church hall, the vestry, the vicarage and during a summer trip.

[The tapes were] just more confirmation of what was happening to me

Alleged victim

On Monday, the second priest claimed Mr Davies would help him with academic studies - but sexually assault him when he did not know answers to questions, saying: "You've asked for this".

He also claimed he had witnessed Mr Davies buying a hard core pornographic video in Soho, while on another parish trip to see "Les Miserables."

"It was just more confirmation of what was happening to me," the man said.

The man also told the court that he tried to stop Canon Davies abusing him.

He said he said "no" lots of times, but the Canon told him he wouldn't stop until he finished.

He told the jury that when the abuse began he "froze" and felt "numb and cold".

The trial continues.