The Church of England was criticised today for failing to act against a choirmaster jailed this morning for abusing children in his care more than 17 years ago.

A complaint was made against Peter Halliday, 61, from Farnborough, Hampshire, in 1990 and rather than go to the police church authorities told him to stay away from children and sacked him from the choir. Today he was sentenced to two and a half years in prison after pleading guilty at Winchester Crown court to ten counts of indecent assault.

Judge Ian Pearson said that Halliday had systematically sexually abused the boys and said the offences were so serious only a custodial sentence was appropriate. He also banned married Halliday from working with children for life. Halliday, who was ordered to pay £2,000 to each of his victims, is also to be put on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Jailing Halliday Judge Pearson: “You were in a position of trust and responsibility to these young boys. These children would have looked up to you as their choirmaster... You repeatedly and systematically abused these boys and groomed them.”

Judge Pearson added the church decision not to tell the police had been “unfortunate, but procedures were different then“ “These young men are still badly affected by what you did,” he added

Ruth Bowskill, for the prosecution, told the court that Halliday used to indecently assault the boys during swimming lessons, camps when they slept over and even at his house. On one occasion one boy was even indecently assaulted in the shower after he cleaned himself up after taking part in sports, she said.

Miss Bowskill said his victims described him as a “fierce man, bully and a revolting character”. She added that the charges he pleaded guilty to were samples and some of the victims had said they had been indecently assaulted up to 30 times. The first victim who was aged around 11 or 12 said he went on holiday with Halliday and his family and was invited to call him Daddy but did not do so.

The second victim said he was assaulted in a swimming pool, during a church outing to Winchester when Halliday sat beside his bed and assaulted him and also in bed while at Halliday’s home.

Miss Bowskill said the victim “felt earmarked and groomed”. She also said that Halliday had kissed him goodbye and said ’I love you’ on one occasion. This victim was the one who eventually told a camp leader who informed the vicar.

The third victim also said he had been assaulted in the swimming pool 20 or 30 times.

Halliday was finally brought to justice when one of his victims saw a television programme about child abuse and went to the police.

A Church of England statement from Guildford Diocesan spokesman Mark Rudall said: “We are completely satisfied that what was done at the time was the way things happened in those days when child protection awareness was on the cusp of serious change.

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