Abuse Claims Are Taken Seriously, Say Church Representatives, after Choir Conductor Is Jailed

By Alex Winter
Daily Echo
February 16, 2017

http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/15095951.Abuse_claims_are_taken_seriously__say_church_representatives__after_choir_conductor_is_jailed/

David Everett

ABUSE claims are taken seriously, church representatives have said after a choir conductor was jailed.

David Everett, of Hankinson Road in Bournemouth, was a member and conductor of the Priory Church Choir in Christchurch when he sexually abused a teenage boy in the early 2000s.

As reported in the Daily Echo, Everett was approaching middle age at the time of the offences.

At a sentencing hearing held at Bournemouth Crown Court, Judge Peter Crabtree OBE said the defendant was “trusted” by the victim’s parents.

“No doubt your offending has had an enduring and significant impact on [the victim],” Judge Crabtree told Everett.

“[He] kept quiet for years through embarrassment and shame.”

A spokesperson for the Diocese of Winchester said: "David Everett is a former member of the choir at Christchurch Priory.

"The Diocese of Winchester has worked closely with Dorset Police throughout their investigation, and Mr Everett has not had any involvement with Christchurch Priory or any other parish within the Diocese of Winchester since the Diocese was made aware of the investigation.

"The Church of England has resolute safeguarding responsibilities and all accusations or instances of abuse are taken very seriously.

"The Diocese of Winchester is working in full cooperation with the appropriate authorities on this matter and continues to ensure it has robust safeguarding processes in place.

"If anyone has any concerns please contact the Diocese of Winchester safeguarding team on 01962 737317 or by emailing safeguarding@winchester.anglican.org."

Everett's victim has faced struggles with alcohol and drugs as a result of the abuse, the court heard.

The defendant, now 57, was sentenced to six years and eight months behind bars in late January.

He had pleaded guilty to six counts of indecent assault on a boy aged under 16 at an earlier hearing.

Detective Constable Adrian Stocker, of Dorset Police’s Child Abuse Investigation Team, called for any victims of sexual abuse to come forward.

“David Everett abused the position he held in the church to take advantage of his victim,” DC Stocker said.

“We take incidents of non-recent sexual abuse extremely seriously."