Croydon Monk jailed for sex attack on child has sentence cut,
July 5, 2013
By MISTY53
One of the most senior Buddhist monks in the UK, jailed for sexually assaulting an underage girl, has had his sentence reduced on appeal.
Pahalagama Somaratana was sentenced to seven years in jail at Isleworth Crown Court last year, after being found guilty of carrying out four sexual attacks on a girl aged under ten.
The 67-year-old, who is originally from Sri Lanka, founded the Buddhist Temple in Dulverton Road, Selsdon 30 years ago.
He had denied attacks at a temple in Chiswick between 1977 and 1978, and a second string of attacks at the Croydon temple in the mid 80′s.
He was cleared of the attacks in Croydon, but found guilty of the first attacks.
The court heard how Somaratana enticed his victim aged between 8 and 9 at the time, to his room with sweets before touching her.
At the Royal Courts of Justice on June 28, he had an appeal to overturn his conviction rejected.
But the court reduced his sentence to six years in prison.
Croyden Guardian
One of the most senior Buddhist monks in the UK, jailed for sexually assaulting an underage girl, has had his sentence reduced on appeal.
Pahalagama Somaratana was sentenced to seven years in jail at Isleworth Crown Court last year, after being found guilty of carrying out four sexual attacks on a girl aged under ten.
The 67-year-old, who is originally from Sri Lanka, founded the Buddhist Temple in Dulverton Road, Selsdon 30 years ago.
He had denied attacks at a temple in Chiswick between 1977 and 1978, and a second string of attacks at the Croydon temple in the mid 80′s.
He was cleared of the attacks in Croydon, but found guilty of the first attacks.
The court heard how Somaratana enticed his victim aged between 8 and 9 at the time, to his room with sweets before touching her.
At the Royal Courts of Justice on June 28, he had an appeal to overturn his conviction rejected.
But the court reduced his sentence to six years in prison.
Croyden Guardian
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