Former Essex teacher admitted child sex offences over four decades

A former teacher and choirmaster has admitted a series of sexual offences, some of which took place in Brentwood and Upminster, which spanned over the course of four decades.

David Pickthall was a teacher in Brentwood and a choirmaster in the London borough of Havering when some of the offences took place.

On Tuesday 8 October, the 65-year-old from Cheveley Park, Suffolk, pleaded guilty to 29 offences at Colchester Magistrates' Court including:

• 16 counts of indecent assault;

• 10 counts of voyeurism;

• 3 counts of making an indecent image of a child.

Essex police have told us the offences were against 19 people between 1980 and 2021.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Chelsie Stamford said: “I want to praise the strength demonstrated by the victims."

“David Pickthall subjected them to an unimaginable ordeal that will stay with them for their whole lives."

Pickthall is due to be sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court on the week commencing 11 November.

Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app.