"Monster" choirmaster convicted of child sex abuse over nearly four decades

A former choirmaster and school teacher from Portsmouth has been convicted of sexually abusing children over a period of nearly four decades.

Mark Burgess abused 13 children between 1975 and 2009.

Burgess had taught at Portsmouth City Boys’ School and also ran choirs in St John’s church in Westbourne, West Sussex, and All Saints church in Commercial Road in Portsmouth.

Portsmouth Crown Court was told Burgess had previously been a music teacher and choir master, vocations which had brought him into contact with children.

The court heard he took advantage of his positions of trust, either in the school or choir settings, in order to get closer to these children.

His trial was told assaults took place during piano lessons at his home or in the church vestry, in his car, on choir trips, and in the school music room.

Police said after decades of keeping this a secret, the children – all now adults – found the confidence to report the abuse.

Detective Inspector Adam Edwards said: "Burgess denied the allegations made against him, and falsely tried to deflect the blame onto others.

"I am pleased the jury saw through his lies and justice has now been served.

"I want to commend the bravery of all the survivors who came forward to speak to police about this abuse"

"They have had to relive some of the worst experiences of their lives by going through the trial process, but their courage and commitment to bringing Mark Burgess to justice has ensured that he will be rightly punished for these horrific crimes."

In a joint statement, some of the survivors in this case said:

"The extent of Mark Burgess’s abuse on all of us has been shocking and has turned our worlds upside down.

"Having to bury such a dark secret for decades, only to have to relive it all again has been indescribable.

"Bringing up the past and coming to terms with what has happened at the hands of this monster has not been easy.

"The abuse was horrific and calculated.

"We had passions: music, singing, and the church. He exploited those passions for his ends.

"He manipulated, groomed, charmed, and bribed his way into our lives for his sexual gratification. He knew better.

"In court, his lies and attempts to manipulate and besmirch, show his abundance of arrogance and that he has never stopped abusing us; to put us through it in the first place was abhorrent, to put us through it again in court, beneath contempt.

"The abuse has left a legacy of suspicion and a reluctance to readily trust people.

"Innocent vulnerable children have had their childhoods wrecked by one man's depravity.

"Knowing now that others had been targeted and were not immune is heart-breaking.

"We have carried the hidden scars of guilt and shame, but we are better and stronger than him. We are valid and cared for human beings who are worthy of love and respect.

"The memories of him and his actions will be with us for the rest of our lives; we will always have to live with the trauma of his abuse. Sadly, that will never end.

"We are grateful to everyone who fought to bring him to justice – including the police and the detectives from Operation Marmion. We thank you.

"To Mark Burgess: You have built yourself up to believe you are an accomplished musician and teacher, but from today, you will only ever be remembered as a manipulative paedophile who preyed on the innocent."

Burgess was remanded in custody to appear at Portsmouth Crown Court for sentencing on 30 June.