Bishop David Oakley of Northampton appeared in court on Thursday, his first appearance since being charged in June with two counts of rape involving a girl under the age of 16.

Oakley, who withdrew from public ministry in 2025 after police received a report alleging sexual misconduct, appeared via video conference. Oakley was arrested in September 2025.

Additional details of the accusation were given on Thursday by prosecutor Sarah Madden. The alleged incidents happened following a pilgrimage to Lourdes, France, in the early 2000s, when the accuser was 15 years old. Oakley would have been in his mid-40s.

“She recalls sex with the defendant on at least two occasions,” said Madden.

Oakley did not enter a plea on Thursday and the case was sent to the Central Criminal Court.

In the United Kingdom, the age of consent for sexual activity is 16. Those in a position of trust cannot engage in sexual activity with anyone under the age of 18.

Following Oakley’s charging in June, the Diocese of Northampton and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales each released statements.

The Diocese of Northampton confirmed the charges and described them as “non-recent safeguarding allegations”.

“We understand this will be very distressing for all concerned but cannot comment further on an active legal process,” said the diocese.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales called the charges “deeply distressing for all”.

“We are profoundly aware that the report of this allegation may reawaken painful memories for many people and again offer an unreserved apology to those who have been hurt by abuse in the Catholic Church in England and Wales,” said the bishops.

The Church in England and Wales has a “zero-tolerance policy for abuse in the Church and in wider society”, said the bishops, adding that they are “cooperating fully with the statutory authorities”.

Oakley was appointed Bishop of Northampton in 2020. He was ordained a priest in 1980.

On June 30, Pope Leo XIV appointed Archbishop Richard Moth of Westminster as the apostolic administrator for the Diocese of Northampton.