A former Scout leader and housemaster at a children’s home in Nottingham has been jailed for 26 years after a jury found him guilty of historic sexual abuse. Steven McNally, now aged 67, abused five children between 1974 and 1979 when he worked at Nazareth House...
Religious and Church
Former verger jailed for teenager sexual assaults in Hampshire and Southwark
A former cathedral verger has been jailed for sexually assaulting two teenage boys. Clive McCleester, 77, was sentenced to 16 years on Thursday after pleading guilty to 10 counts of sexual abuse. The first victim was assaulted between 1969 and 1970, when McCleester...
Former verger jailed for teenager sexual assaults in Hampshire and Southwark
A former cathedral verger has been jailed for sexually assaulting two teenage boys. Clive McCleester, 77, was sentenced to 16 years on Thursday after pleading guilty to 10 counts of sexual abuse. The first victim was assaulted between 1969 and 1970, when McCleester...
Church of England to set up £150m fund for Redress Scheme
A £150 million fund is being set up for victims of church-related abuse, the Church of England has announced. The Church said it is “truly sorry for its past failings relating to safeguarding” as proposed details for its national redress scheme for survivors were...
Choirmaster who sexually abused 14 boys at churches in Greater Manchester and Cheshire is jailed
A former choirmaster who 50 years ago sexually abused 14 boys at churches across the North West has finally been jailed. Richard Owen, also known as Franklyn Stanowski, met the children after they joined the choir at churches in Winsford, Knutsford...
Horsham catholic priest Anthony White jailed for child sex abuse
Father Anthony White, 64, from Cross-in-Hand, East Sussex, plied the boy with drink before raping him after he visited his house, Sussex Police said. Tao Qazi, White's victim, told the BBC he has struggled to find happiness since the attack and cannot understand why...
IICSA – Child protection in religious organisations and settings Investigation Report
THIS THEMATIC INVESTIGATION AUGMENTS THE DEDICATED INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE ANGLICAN AND ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCHES ALREADY CONDUCTED BY THE INQUIRY. In this investigation, the Inquiry obtained evidence from 38 religious organisations with a presence in England and Wales,...
Remedy Law instructed – Mark Burgess Abuse Claim – Witness Appeal
A former church choirmaster and teacher who sexually abused children over three decades has been jailed for 40 years. Mark Burgess, from Portsmouth, carried out the attacks in church vestries, school music rooms and at home during piano lessons between 1976 and 2009....
Church of England braces for compensation claims linked to Nine O’Clock Service
The Church of England could face a wave of compensation claims from former members of a cult-like movement which collapsed due to a sex scandal 25 years ago. The Nine O'Clock Service, which was known as NOS, was an alternative Christian service and attracted young...
Mark Burgess sentenced to 40 years for non recent sexual abuse
The survivors of a horrific cycle of non-recent child sex abuse bravely confronted their abuser in court today (Wednesday 30 June), where he was branded a ‘conniving and exploitative serial paedophile’. Mark Burgess, aged 68 years, of St Chads Avenue in Hilsea, was...
Portsmouth ex-choirmaster Mark Burgess guilty of 48 ‘horrendous’ sex offences against 13 young children
During the 11-week trial a picture emerged of how trusted music teacher and choirmaster Burgess abused his position to prey on 12 young boys and one girl. Jurors were told how he ‘sort of took on that dad role’ for many of the children but used that to abuse them,...
Mark Burgess Trial – Portsmouth choirmaster on trial for sex offences denies locking boy in church vestry
Speaking as the trial continued in its seventh week, Burgess denied he locked himself in the All Saints Church vestry in Portsmouth with the boy. Jurors previously heard the boy, now a man, alleged former music teacher Burgess touched between his legs and said: ‘Did...
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