British Priest Held in Bangkok Over Sex Case

A British Anglican priest has been arrested in Thailand following a request from Australia where he is wanted on paedophile charges, Thai officials said yesterday.

John Mountford, 49, an Australian resident, was arrested on Wednesday at his Bangkok home, weeks after returning to the city from Manchester, said an immigration official.

He is wanted on eight charges in connection with the alleged abuse of a 14-year-old boy while he was chaplain at St Peter's College, a private school in Adelaide, South Australia, between 1991 and 1992.

The charges comprise five counts of indecent assault, one of unlawful sexual intercourse and two of procuring the commission of an act of gross indecency. Australia's justice minister, Chris Ellison, said Canberra would begin extradition proceedings and was confident the request would prove successful.

"This sends a very clear message that those who allegedly breach Australian laws will be tracked down and brought to justice," said Mr Ellison.

A justice ministry official said Australia had tried to have Mr Mountford arrested in Britain, where he spent some time before returning to Thailand last month. "We had sought him there, but were unable to locate him," he said.

Mr Mountford, who is being held at a Bangkok prison, was unavailable for comment. In recent weeks at least two other former pupils from the Adelaide school have reportedly come forward alleging that Mr Mountford acted improperly.

He fled Australia in 1992, allegedly on the advice of the former Anglican archbishop, Ian George. From 1998 to 2002 he worked at Harrow International School in Bangkok.