London, England, May 26, 2008 / 09:57 am
Three men who attacked a priest in his own home have been sentenced to a total of 12 years in prison.
Paul Hands, 28, his brother Andrew Hands, 25, and Stephen Hinchcliffe, 25, all of Ashton-under-Lyne in Lancashire, UK, were each jailed for four years after admitting burglary and assault.
Fr Francis Wadsworth, 37, the parish priest of St Ann’s in Ashton-under-Lyne, was in court to hear sentence passed. He sat only feet away from his attackers during the trial at Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester, but said he had forgiven them for what they had done.
Fr Wadsworth had just returned home from visiting a parishioner in hospital last November when he answered a knock at the door.