Cleric facing historical sex assault allegations extradited from Kosovo

A Catholic cleric accused of a string of historical sex offences has been returned to Britain from Kosovo after a five-year police hunt.

Father Laurence Soper was arrested on suspicion of nine offences of sexual assault committed over a period from 1972 to 1986 as he arrived at Luton Airport on Sunday.

The 72-year-old, who was detained under a European Arrest Warrant in Kosovo in May, was taken to a west London police station where he is being held in custody.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police' s Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command had appealed for help in tracing Soper.