Richard Cattell: Ex St Marys priest charged with alleged child sex abuse

A former priest is facing a string of fresh charges over the alleged sexual abuse of two boys in his care in the 1980s and 90s.

A former priest has been charged over the alleged historical sexual assault of two boys in Sydney’s west and on the South Coast.

In August last year, detectives from Nepean Police Area Command commenced an investigation into allegations of historic child sexual assault by a man between 1986 and 1991.

Following extensive investigations, detectives issued Richard Cattell, 70, with a Court Attendance Notice on January 27, at a facility at Malabar.

Father Richard St John Cattell in the centre flanked by Nyst Lawyers solicitor Ron Behlau and a supporter at an earlier date.

He was charged with four counts of indecent assault of a person under 16 (under authority), two counts of sexual intercourse with a person aged 10-16, two counts of intercourse with a male aged 10-18, soliciting a male under 18 for sex, two counts of inciting a person under 16 to commit an act of indecency and two counts of assault and act of indecency.

Former Father Richard St John Cattell.

Police will allege in court that Cattell, who was a priest at the time, sexually assaulted two boys – then aged between 11 and 17 – who were known to him, over a five-year period, while they were in his care.

He was remanded in custody during a brief mention at Penrith Local Court on Thursday.

Cattell will face court again in May.