A vicar who abused young boys was jailed yesterday for 5½ years. The Church of England issued an apology to victims and said it had taken steps to try to prevent such crimes.

During the trial of David Smith at Bristol Crown Court, it had emerged that the Church was alerted twice by victims but failed to take effective action.

Smith, 52, became an abuser while he was working as a housemaster at a Berkshire preparatory school in 1976 and continued after becoming a parish priest in 1979.

Victims, now adults but still deeply scarred by their experiences, described how he had assaulted them during sleep-overs at the vicarage and day trips to the seaside after he had won their parents’ trust.

Judge Michael Longman told the disgraced clergyman: “During two periods in your life, you sexually abused six young boys who were effectively in your care.

“All were young and vulnerable and three were under 13. All of them looked up to you as their priest and father-figure.

“The trust placed in you by them and their families could hardly have been greater. The circumstances of the abuse, you being their priest and friend, could hardly have been worse.”

Smith was found guilty of ten charges of indecency, one of sexual assault and one of sexual activity against six boys under 16 between September 1976 and May 2005.

The abuse came to light through the last of his victims, who wanted to become a priest and saw Smith as a mentor. The boy confided in a female parishioner. Police traced other victims, including one who is now a police officer.

One of Smith’s victims who tried to alert church authorities in 2001 said: “The Church gave me the assurance that children would be protected from him but they were lying. The Church is appallingly guilty of covering up these things for all these years.

“I think the cases that were heard in court were just the tip of the iceberg and Smith abused many more than we know.”

Church officials were first given warning about Smith’s behaviour in 1981 when the mother of a 15-year-old boy became concerned about her son.

The affair was hushed up and he was quietly moved to another parish. Twenty-five years later, another of Smith’s victims recognised him when he was interviewed on television. The victim was appalled to realise he was still working as a priest and contacted the Bishop of Bath and Wells, the late Jim Thompson. But desite an assurance that action had been taken, Smith went on to abuse another young boy.

The judge said: “In 2001 one victim contacted the bishop who spoke to you and you denied inappropriate behaviour but agreed not to be alone with children. You persisted in your abusive conduct.”

The court was told while vicar for St John's in Clevedon, Somerset, Smith wrote emotional letters to one of his 12-year-old victims after the boy tried to break off contact with him. He wrote: “I feel like an unloved pet. Obviously the centre of your world has moved from a middle-aged vicar to a 19-year-old nubile girl.”

Smith denied all the charges, and said he had “certainly not” abused the boys in his care, and had taken them on trips abroad to “broaden their minds”.

Peter Price, the present Bishop of Bath and Wells, said: “The Rev David Smith has been found guilty of a number of very serious charges. We are shocked and horrified that he has fallen so far short of the very high standards expected of priests in the Church of England.

“We apologise sincerely to David Smith’s victims, their families, the parish and all involved in this case. We are very sorry that these offences were committed by a man in a position of trust.

“We have ensured that proper pastoral care is being offered to all those in this case who need it and we will do all within our power to mitigate the harmful effects of these offences. We have taken all necessary steps to do all in our power to ensure there is no repetition of the situation.”

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