‘Vile’ former Southwark Cathedral verger guilty of sexually abusing boys

A former Southwark Cathedral verger has pleaded guilty to child sexual offences after years of claiming his innocence.

Clive McCleester, 77, of St Cross Road, Winchester, pleaded guilty at Inner London Crown Court yesterday to eight counts of indecent assault and two counts of gross indecency with a child, against two teenage boys aged between 13 and 15.

One of the victims was abused by McCleester in the 1980’s.

He was a chorister at the cathedral, where McCleester was the head verger, someone who leads the daily running of a cathedral.

The boy was abused at McCleester’s flat, which was within the vicarage.

Detective Sergeant Hannah Stewart, from the Met’s Central Specialist Crime department, said: “This has been a long and arduous investigation, with McCleester maintaining his innocence throughout.

“We are pleased he has finally admitted his guilt just three days before we were due to take him to trial to present our case.”

McCleester was employed as a child welfare officer at a school in Hampshire between 1960 and 1971, where he abused the other boy.

But the victim will never know the final outcome of this investigation as he died in August 2020.

In February 2022 McCleester was charged and a trial was deferred to Monday, where he pleaded guilty. He will be sentenced on July 10.

A spokeswoman for the Diocese of Southwark said: “We would like to offer a full and unreserved apology to all those affected by this matter and we commend the bravery of those who brought this to light, acknowledging how difficult and distressing this would have been.

“We are profoundly sorry for the abuse perpetrated by McCleester and are committed to doing everything possible to ensure the safety and well-being of children, young people and adults, who look to us for respect and care.

“McCleester’s crimes are a grievous breach of trust, which will have lifelong effects.”

Pictured top: Clive McCleester (Picture: The Met)