October 2015 Church of England priest and former teacher jailed for sexual offences against children A Church of England priest and former teacher who gave money to two boys he sexually abused has been jailed. The Reverend Christopher Howarth, of Rocks Park Road, Uckfield, was found guilty of 26 offences against the boys, now aged 19 and 20. One boy was just 8 when the abuse started. The court heard he paid money to the boys in return for sexual gratification and told one of them he was “preparing” him for a girlfriend. Howarth was jailed for 10 years at Lewes Crown Court on Friday. The 68-year-old, who had admitted one count of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, was also ordered to be placed on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely. He was convicted of a further seven counts of sexual activity with a child which took place between 2004 and 2012 in the Uckfield area of East Sussex. Howarth was an unpaid non-stipendiary priest until he was suspended by the Diocese of Chichester in December 2012. He also taught at Uckfield Community Technology College until he retired in 2007. A petition was presented to the court called ‘Support Rev Chris Howarth’. It was signed by 717 people with the aim of providing a character reference for him. July 2015 Serial child abuser found guilty of multiple offences A former Uckfield deputy principal and lay priest has been convicted of sexual offences against two boys. Christopher Howarth, of Rocks Park Road, Uckfield, was convicted at Hove Crown Court on Friday (July 17) after a ten-day trial. The retired 68-year-old was found guilty of 26 offences, all committed in the Uckfield area. He was found not guilty of five offences. He had previously pleaded guilty to two other sexual offences against one of the boys. He was a prominent figure in the town through his long service at the school and through his church work. On Uckfield carnival night he was usually one of the priests conducting the service outside the Cinque Ports Club. A petition ‘Support Rev Chris Howarth’ was signed by 717 people with the aim of providing a character reference for him. Howarth, who had been on court bail during the trial, was remanded in custody for sentencing on August 7. Howarth was convicted of 16 offences against one of the boys, between 2005 and 2011. They were; three counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity; eight counts of sexual activity with a child; four counts of sexual assault on a child; and one of taking indecent photographs of a child. He had pleaded guilty at a previous hearing to causing or inciting a child to take part in sexual activity, and during the trial before the jury retired, he also pleaded guilty to an offence of taking indecent photographs of a child, both in relation to the same boy. He was found not guilty of two offences of assault on a child by penetration, and one of sexual activity with a child, all in respect of this boy. Howarth was also convicted of 10 offences against the other boy, between 2004 and 2009. They were; four counts of sexual activity with a child; four of sexual assault of a child under 13, and two of causing a child to watch a sexual act. He was found not guilty of two offences of causing a child to watch a sexual act in relation to this boy.