BBC News
September 23, 2010
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-11396554
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| Former Baptist Church pastor Malcolm Hoare denied the charges |
A former pastor at a Norfolk church has been found guilty of five indecent assaults against a young member of his congregation.
Malcolm Hoare, 68, of Whitefriars Road, King's Lynn, denied 12 charges over a seven-year period from the late-1970s, when the girl was 11.
A jury at Norwich Crown Court cleared him of two indecent assaults and one charge of having sex with a minor.
They failed to reach a verdict on four charges.
These were one further indecent assault charge and three charges of having sex with the girl when she was under 16.
Hoare, who was a pastor with King's Lynn Baptist Fellowship, was bailed and a date for sentence has not been fixed.
Det Con Elaine Goodall of Norfolk Police said: "This case focused on a man who abused his position of trust as a notable church figure.
"The victim's bravery in coming forward after so many years to report the offences is to be admired."
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