A former Catholic priest and teacher in Ealing has been charged with a series of sexual abuse offences involving children after returning from Kosovo.

Laurence Soper was arrested by officers on Sunday (August 21) at Luton airport as he arrived back in the UK from the state in south east Europe.

The 72-year-old was taken to a west London police station after he was arrested by sexual offences, exploitation and child abuse command officers.

A former teacher at St Benedict's School during the seventies and eighties, he was charged with nine offences involving five victims.

Mr Soper was charged with two counts of buggery on a day unknown between February 17, 1972, and February 18, 1976 on a boy under the age of 16 - who police have named as "Victim 1."

He was also charged with an act of gross indecency on a day unknown between February 17, 1972 and February 18 1974 towards a boy under the age of 14 and indecently assaulting a boy under the age of 16 - also relating to "Victim 1."

There were two charges of indecent assault on a "Victim 2", on a day unknown between August 22, 1979, and August 23, 1984 on a boy under the age of 16.

He also faced two charges for indecent assault on a boy under the age of 16, between December 4, 1979, and December 23, 1984 on "Victim 3" and between November 10, 1979, and November 11, 1984, on "Victim 4."

Officers also charged Mr Soper with indecent assault on a boy under the age of 16, on a day unknown between May 14, 1982, and May 15, 1986, on a "Victim 5."

Mr Soper will appear at Ealing Magistrates Court on Monday (August 22).

Police in Kosovo’s capital Pristina had in May this year confirmed local reports that he had been arrested in Pec, west of the country, where he had reportedly been living for several years.

His arrest began an extradition process returning him to the UK.