European arrest warrant issued for missing Ealing abbot

Police have obtained a European arrest warrant for the former abbot of Ealing Abbey, accused of historic sex offences at a leading Catholic private school at west London, who failed to answer bail.

Fr Laurence Soper is wanted over allegations of child abuse dating back to when he taught at St Benedict's School, which is part of Ealing Abbey.

Fr Soper, who was abbot of the Benedictine abbey from 1991 to 2000, was believed to have been living in a monastery in Rome and was due to return to London to answer bail in March last year but he failed to appear.

Fr Soper, 68, was arrested in 2010 on suspicion of historical sexual assault.