Priest ‘stole church funds to buy drugs for gay sex parties’
Tom Kington, Rome
Friday September 17 2021, 4.40pm, The Times

Francesco Spagnesi, 40, who was highly regarded by his parishioners in Tuscany, is accused of drug-dealing

An Italian priest known for his sparkling homilies has been arrested on suspicion of stealing thousands of euros in church funds and donations to buy drugs for gay sex parties that he hosted.

Father Francesco Spagnesi, 40, a highly regarded Roman Catholic priest from Prato near Florence, is under house arrest as police interview 200 people who are said to have attended his parties over the past two years.

Police began investigating Spagnesi after allegedly discovering that his flatmate had imported from the Netherlands a litre of the “date-rape” drug GHB, which can be used to incapacitate victims of sexual assault.

Detectives allege that the two men used online dating sites to invite guests to parties where drugs were shared and sold. Officers found bottles