Home / Crime and Justice / Vicar jailed for 50-year-old child abuse images
Vicar jailed for 50-year-old child abuse images
7 Feb
Summary
- Jailed vicar Alec Johnston kept child abuse images for 50 years.
- Johnston was a teacher at Bishop's Stortford College in the 1990s.
- A victim's report in early 2023 led to the discovery of the images.
Church of England vicar Alec Johnston, 78, has been sentenced to 51 weeks in prison for possessing child abuse images for five decades. The offenses date back approximately 50 years, with the images being discovered by police earlier this year following a victim's report.
Johnston previously worked as a History teacher at Bishop's Stortford College, where he was dismissed in 1993 for developing a crush on a student. Despite this, he continued his clerical duties for many years.
Police recovered the child abuse images during a search of his home after a voluntary interview in January 2023. Detective Constable Jess Berg commended the victim's bravery and stated that the sentence aims to provide closure. The college has expressed regret and gratitude for the police's work.
The Church of England acknowledged the appalling nature of the crimes and noted that past protocols for information sharing were less stringent. Johnston's file was reviewed in 2020, but no criminal allegations were noted at that time.
