Who is Alec Johnston and why was he jailed?

Alec Johnston, a 78-year-old former Church of England vicar and teacher, was jailed for possessing child abuse images that he had kept for 50 years.

When were Alec Johnston's offenses discovered?

The child abuse images were discovered by police in early 2023 after a victim came forward to report their experiences with Johnston.

What was Alec Johnston's previous role before being jailed?

Alec Johnston was a History teacher at Bishop's Stortford College until his dismissal in 1993, and he also served as a Church of England vicar.

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.

Vicar jailed for 50-year-old child abuse 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.