‘Vile predator’...16 years in jail for late Queen’s verger who abused boys
AVERGER to the late Queen has been dubbed a “vile predator” and jailed for 16 years for repeatedly sexually abusing two schoolboys aged 13.
Clive McCleester, 77, who served at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle and supervised visitors to the Queen Mother’s tomb, carried out 10 sexual offences dating back 55 years.
He abused his first victim while as a child welfare officer from 1968 to 1970 at Tylney Hall, a school for “maladjusted” boys in Hampshire.
Prosecutor Catherine Donnelly told Inner London Crown Court how McCleester attacked the boy on the day of his grandmother’s funeral while walking with him in the grounds.
He took the child back to his room and continued the attack. Then such incidents happened two to three times a week, with assaults at bathtime.
Ms Donnelly said: “This would take place regularly, taking every passing
Failed
opportunity to touch him.” The victim later complained to police after speaking with a counsellor but died in 2020.
The second boy was a chorister who McCleester abused between 1984 and 1987 while he worked as head verger at Southwark Cathedral.
The boy was first assaulted after being invited back to McCleester’s vicarage flat for a Chinese takeaway.
He “bear-hugged” the boy and abused him on up to four occasions.
Ms Donnelly said: “It is clear this victim liked Mr McCleester and thought well of him.
“He said he was never forced but consented to what happened. It’s only in retrospect he has come to accept he was abused and groomed.”
Police reviewed historical documentation, archive files and employment records to trace witnesses.
McCleester attended court via video-link from South-East London’s
Thameside Prison. Judge Jane Rowley told him: “You took advantage of your position of responsibility to sexually abuse young victims at the school and at the church.”
She referred to the victim impact statement of the chorister. The judge said: “He describes the anger and worthlessness that he suffered as a result of what you did to him, which impacted every aspect of his life.”
Referring to his Tylney Hall victim the judge said: “His life was blighted and it ended far too soon.”
Judge Rowley told McCleester: “You enjoyed many years of a successful career and productive life.Your victims were not so lucky.
“They both had vulnerabilities when you abused them which followed them into adulthood.
“Both had the innocence of childhood taken from them.”
McCleester, of the Grade One-listed Hospital of St Cross almshouse in Winchester, Hants, admitted eight counts of indecent assault and two counts of gross indecency with a child.
The Met Police’s Detective Sergeant Hannah Stewart said her officers “worked relentlessly and showed incredible commitment to securing these convictions.
“Both the victims and their families feel they have been failed by institutions that were meant 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.”
Southwark Cathedral said: “We are profoundly sorry for the abuse perpetrated by McCleester and are committed to doing everything possible to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children, young people and adults, who look to us for respect and care.”