UK Daily Mail Reports Story on Bank Boss Rev.Flowers and His Rent Boys
The only bad thing about this story is that it happened and it was discovered in the UK and not the US. We’ve had our share of political sex and drug scandals but because people’s with inquiring minds want to expose the double standards of people being what they fight against. Believing in what ever is fundamental to a healthy life.. It’s good to believe in something even if it’s something that makes not much sense. What is wrong is to be something you are not while fighting others that are.
MARTIN ROBINSON of the UK Daily Mail has an exclusive story of how this deal went down and I posted it here for your enjoyment. My pleasure, Adam
Disgraced: Reverend Paul Flowers, former Chairman of the Co-Op bank, has a conviction for gross indecency, it has emerged
The sordid past of disgraced Co-op bank boss Reverend Paul Flowers was laid bare today after it emerged he has a conviction for gross indecency and quit as a councillor for having pornography on his computer.
The fallen Methodist minister is already being investigated by the police after apparently buying hard drugs, including crack cocaine and crystal meth.
But it has now been revealed that in the past 30 years he has been involved in a series of sex scandals.
In 1981 he was convicted of gross indecency after he was caught by police performing a sex act with a trucker in a public toilet - but he was forgiven by the church.
Rev Flowers, who is gay, admitted the offence at Fareham Magistrates' Court in Hampshire and was fined £75 with £35 legal costs, yet his church let him continue in his job because he was sorry.
He also resigned as a Labour councillor in Bradford in 2011 after 'inappropriate but not illegal adult content' was found on a computer he used, the city council said today.
A rent boy claimed today that the Methodist also used his Co-op email account to organise drug-fuelled sex sessions with and others while he was still chairman of the bank.
After his gross indecency conviction, Flowers told magistrates he was 'shamed and embarrassed' about the incident, but maintained he was involved 'at the other man's instigation'.
Yet he was allowed to continue as a Methodist minister.
'This was a matter for our usual procedures and after that process was complete it was decided he could continue as a minister,' a Methodist Ministry spokesman said.
'This matter did not preclude him from his activities in the church. He was very contrite, and he continued his work',
Caught on camera: The Rev Paul Flowers was filmed counting money for drugs in a scandal that has rocked the Co-op and the Methodist Church
Flowers served as a member of Bradford Council’s executive from May 2010 to August 2011, when he stepped down from the post, saying he had “increasing and competing demands” on his time.
The following month he resigned as a Labour councillor for the Great Horton ward, having served on the council since 2001.
At the time, he said in a statement: 'It has become clear to me that, over the longer term, I will be unable to sustain the workload associated with performing both roles to the best of my ability.'
But the council said today: 'Inappropriate but not illegal adult content was found on a Council computer handed in by Councillor Flowers for servicing.
'It was decided he could continue as a minister. It did not preclude him from his activities in the church. He was very contrite, and he continued his work.'
- Methodist Ministry spokesman on Rev Flowers' gross indecency conviction
'This was put to him and he resigned immediately.'
It comes days after the Mail on Sunday revealed Rev Flowers bought hard drugs just after he was grilled by MPs on the Treasury Select Committee over the bank's disastrous performance.
In the shocking video the 63-year-old was seen in his car discussing the cocaine and crystal meth he wants from a dealer in Leeds.
He then counts out £300 in £20 notes and sends a friend to make the deal.
The Co-operative Group said today its chairman Len Wardle had resigned with immediate effect, days after the former chairman became embroiled in the drugs scandal.
In the spotlight: Reverend Paul Flowers in December 1990 when he was vice-chairman of Rochdale Council¿s social services committee during the ¿satanic abuse¿ fiasco
Flowers was the £132,000-a-year chairman of the 'ethical' Co-op Bank from 2010 until May this year when he stepped down as the bank's financial woes became apparent. The bank lost £700 million in the first six months of this year.
Guest: A friend of disgraced Reverend Paul Flowers said he is house sitting for him, but the former Co-op chairman is in hiding
On the day after his appearance at the Commons, Flowers sent a text reading: 'I was "grilled" by the Treasury Select Committee yesterday and afterwards came to Manchester to get wasted with friends.
The video and a series of damning text messages leaked by acquaintance Stuart Davies, who was 'disgusted by his hypocrisy'.
The text messages prove Rev Flowers was using hard drugs in the days surrounding his crucial testimony to the Treasury Committee on November 6.
A parishioner who worships at Flowers' Bradford church last night told The Sun: 'The revelations are repulsive. People idolised him.'
Twenty or so years ago, Flowers came to public attention as vice-chairman of Rochdale Council’s social services committee during the ‘satanic abuse’ fiasco between 1988 and 1991.
It involved social workers making lurid claims about satanic rituals being performed on children and, as a result, 20 children from six families were placed in care.
However, the police found no evidence and a government-backed inquiry subsequently blamed ‘evangelical Christians’ for the scare.
Flowers maintained a high profile, sitting on committees and getting himself involved in community projects.
Ironically, given recent events, from 1992 to 2004 he was prominently involved with the Lifeline Project, which helps drug abusers. Today he remains a trustee of the Terrence Higgins Trust, the HIV/Aids charity.
Disgraced former Co-op chairman 'used bank email to organise sex and drugs sessions with rent boys'
Reverend Paul Flowers used his Co-op bank email account to organise nights with a £650-per-session rent boy, it emerged today.
The disgraced Methodist minister, 63, who was forced to quit his £130,000 role in June, organised drug-fuelled gay sex at hotels while he was still in the job, according to the escort involved.
Emails reveal he would pay for threesomes, taking the rent boys for expensive dinners before going to bed together.
Arrangement: Reverend Paul Flowers, pictured in front of MPs this month, used his company email to set up dates with rent boy Ciaron Dodd, who charged up to £650-a-night
The liaisons were organised while he was running the Co-Op bank, which at the time he was in charge lost £700million.
'I knew what he did for a living and couldn't believe how debauched he was,' escort Ciaron Dodd, 21, told The Sun.
'Every time he saw me he knew he was risking everything — but he just didn't seem to care. He took me to the theatre and gave me presents like chocolate and wine. I was old enough to be his grandson but he didn't seem to think we looked like the odd couple.'
The emails from Flowers' Co-op account reveal how he was happy to discuss sex and drugs, despite his public position.
One email to the rent boy says: 'Been waiting for you to come and have some coke (cocaine) and k (Ketamin) with me. P x.'
Email chain: Rev Flowers admitted he had threesomes in the past, but could only afford one rent boy on this occasion
Drug reference: This email, also sent to Ciaron says he wanted to take cocaine and ketamin with him
In another exchange, the rent boy asks if he can bring his friend Lucas.
Flowers replied: 'I like him a lot - but I can't afford 2 of you this time! PXx'.
According to his Facebook page Mr Dodds lives in Warrington, Cheshire and is a 'part time model' working in the catering industry.
But the page was taken down after friends began to post messages attacking him for going public about his meetings with Flowers.
He claimed the relationship ended when Flowers refused to pay £2,000 he owed.
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