Bishop Oakley Charged with Two Counts of Assault on Minor

Bishop David Oakley of Northampton, England, has been charged with two counts of assault on a female under the age of 16, local police confirmed on Wednesday, June 24. The 70-year-old bishop is due to appear at Cannock Magistrates' Court for an initial hearing on August 14.

The charges stem from an investigation by Staffordshire Police into what the Diocese of Northampton described as "non-recent safeguarding allegations." Police stated the charges relate to an allegation made to them, which led to Oakley's arrest in September 2025. That arrest had not been publicly disclosed at the time.

Shortly after his arrest, in October 2025, it was announced that Bishop Oakley was taking a leave of absence from the diocese for personal reasons. His status as Bishop of Northampton, a position he has held since 2020, remains unchanged while legal proceedings are ongoing. The diocese issued a statement acknowledging the situation would be "very distressing for all concerned" but declined to comment further due to the active legal process.

According to church authorities, the allegations date back to the year 2000. Prior to his appointment as bishop, Oakley served as rector of St. Mary's...