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August 2023
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This case focuses on a man named Clive McCleester, who has been sentenced to jail for the sexual abuse of two teenage boys over 40 years ago. This conviction results from a committed and exhaustive investigation, despite the hurdles posed by the historical nature of the crimes and the ongoing pandemic.
McCleester has been convicted of serious sexual offences, including indecent assault and gross indecency with a child. These are serious crimes under UK law. Indecent assault is an offence under the Sexual Offences Act 1956 and involves touching another person sexually without their consent. Gross indecency with a child is also a severe offence under the same Act and involves engaging in sexual activities with a child under 16. The nature of these crimes, combined with the offences committed against minors, would have resulted in a substantial custodial sentence, as we see here with McCleester's eight-year prison sentence and an additional eight years on licence. The latter means that McCleester will have to comply with specific conditions for eight years after his release, and failure to do so can result in his return to custody. In this case, the prosecution would have had to establish beyond reasonable doubt that McCleester committed the crimes. Due to the historical nature of the offences, this likely involved a detailed investigation into archival material, employment records, and medical reports. The challenges of such an investigation cannot be underestimated, given the time that has passed, the death of one of the victims, and the complications posed by the pandemic. McCleester's initial maintenance of his innocence likely complicated the investigation further. However, he eventually pleaded guilty to the offences, which will have been a factor in the court's decision to sentence him. This plea shows acceptance of responsibility, sometimes resulting in a lesser sentence. However, the court still imposed a significant sentence, given the severity and number of offences. In this case, the defence would likely have been tasked with examining the evidence for any inconsistencies or legal issues. Given McCleester's ultimate guilty plea, the defence may have recognised the strength of the evidence against him. Overall, this case highlights the commitment of law enforcement to pursue justice, even when faced with historical crimes. It also underscores the importance of providing support to victims of sexual offences, as the trauma and impact of such crimes can last for many years. The Met has specially trained officers and recommends various charities that can support victims, emphasising the importance of this aspect in dealing with such serious crimes. Possible Different Outcomes Of The Case Under the Sexual Offences Act 1956, the maximum penalty for indecent assault on a male could range from 2 to 10 years imprisonment, depending on the victim's age and other circumstances. The maximum penalty for gross indecency with a child was typically up to 2 years imprisonment. However, please note that sentencing highly depends on the case's specifics, including the number of offences, the severity of the offences, and the impact on the victims. In the case of Clive McCleester, he was charged with eight counts of indecent assault and two counts of gross indecency with a child. If he had been found guilty of all charges at trial, he could theoretically have faced a maximum sentence of many decades in prison. However, in practice, judges often impose concurrent sentences for multiple similar offences, which can reduce the total time served. If McCleester had pleaded guilty before the trial started, this could have reduced his sentence. In the English legal system, a guilty plea can reduce up to one-third of the maximum sentence. This is done to encourage guilty pleas, which can save the time and expense of a full trial and also spare victims and witnesses from the ordeal of giving evidence in court. The Case A "committed and relentless" investigation into reports of sexual abuse of boys more than 40 years ago has resulted in a man being jailed. At Inner London Crown Court on Monday, 10 July, Clive McCleester, 77 (05.08.45) of St Cross Road, Winchester was sentenced to eight years in jail and a further eight years on licence after he pleaded guilty to eight counts of indecent assault and two counts of gross indecency with a child, against two teenage boys. Detective Sergeant Hannah Stewart, from the Met’s Central Specialist Crime, said: “This has been a long and arduous investigation with McCleester maintaining his innocence throughout. We are pleased he has finally admitted his guilt just three days before we were due to take him to trial to present our case. “The initial victim survivor, having sadly passed away after giving police his evidence, was unable to hear the guilty verdict but his family represented him at court in his absence. The second victim survivor was also sexually abused and exploited by McCleester – a verger in his Cathedral. The impact to both at such a young age has been devastating. They have been extremely brave and shown tremendous strength and courage. “The officers involved in this case have worked relentlessly and shown incredible commitment to securing these convictions. Both victim/families feel they have been failed by institutions that were supposed to protect them. We hope they can feel an element of peace knowing that justice has been finally served. McCleester is a vile predator who has no place in society. “We urge anyone who has been a victim of McCleester to come forward to police. We will support you.” At the time of one of the offences McCleester was employed as a child welfare officer at Tylney Hall School in Hampshire, between 1960 and 1971. T he first victim was aged between 13 to 15-years-old at the time of the offences. McCleester resided at the boarding school in his own private residence and was assigned as a welfare officer to look after the victim following the death of his Grandmother. The abuse took place between 1 January 1969 and April 1971. The victim survivor disclosed his abuse to police after speaking with a counsellor. Sadly he will never know the final outcome of this investigation as he died in August 2020. Detectives remained in contact with his family throughout. Specialist Crime detectives launched an investigation. A second victim survivor came forward to police and disclosed the abuse he had also suffered at the hands of McCleester. He was around 13-years-old when he was abused by McCleester at Southwark Cathedral between 1 January 1984 and May 1987. He was a chorister at the Cathedral where McCleester was the Head Verger. He was abused at McCleester’s flat which was within the vicarage. Due to the time frame of the offences, specialist officers gathered and reviewed a vast amount of historical documentation to obtain the necessary evidence. They interrogated systems, old archived files and employment records from the local authority and Southwark Cathedral to trace individuals to assist with the investigation. Former pupils were traced and interviewed. They also obtained specialist medical reports to corroborate the two victim accounts. The pandemic hindered the investigation due to archives being closed. In February 2022 McCleester was charged with the offences mentioned. An initial trial was set for October 2022 but was deferred to 26 June 2023, where he pleaded guilty. Advice and details of charities that can offer support to victims of sexual offences can be found on the Met's website. The Met has specially trained officers who will listen and support you through the investigative process. |