Extradited priest remanded in custody

A former Roman Catholic priest was remanded in custody today after being extradited to Britain from the United States to face allegations of sexual abuse.

Father James Robinson, 71, spoke only to confirm his name and date-of-birth during a two-minute hearing at Birmingham Magistrates' Court.

The clergyman, who was not asked to enter a plea, is alleged to have abused young boys in Walsall, Birmingham, Coventry and Wales between 1959 and 1983.

Magistrates ordered Robinson, who has been living in California since the mid-1980s, to appear at Birmingham Crown Court for a preliminary hearing on November 3.

There was no application for bail on behalf of Robinson, who faces a total of 22 charges, including 12 of indecent assault and three of gross indecency.

A spokeswoman for West Midlands Police said Robinson was successfully extradited from the USA on Thursday, landing at Heathrow Airport yesterday.

The clergyman, whose full name is Richard John James Robinson, is known to have worked in the Birmingham and Coventry areas of the West Midlands.

A spokesman for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Birmingham said: "The archdiocese is fully committed to the safety and protection of children and vulnerable individuals and has in place comprehensive safeguarding policies and procedures.

"The Archdiocese of Birmingham has co-operated fully with the police in all aspects of this case and will continue to co-operate with the police and other agencies as necessary.

"As this case is now the subject of legal proceedings, it is not possible or appropriate for the archdiocese to make any detailed comment at this time."