BishopAccountability.org
	Retired Pastor Guilty of Child Sex Offences By Emma Knights EDP September 23, 2010 http://www.edp24.co.uk/content/edp24/news/story.aspx?brand=EDPOnline&category=News&tBrand=EDPOnline&tCategory=xDefault&itemid=NOED23%20Sep%202010%2018%3A37%3A09%3A000 A retired Norfolk pastor accused of sexually abusing a young church member has been found guilty of five charges. At Norwich Crown Court today Malcolm Hoare, 68, who belonged to the King's Lynn Baptist Fellowship, was found guilty of five counts of indecently assaulting the girl. The offences all took place when the victim, now a woman in her 40s, was aged between 13 and 15. Today the jury could not reach a verdict on four other charges - two more offences of indecent assault on the girl and two offences of having sex with the girl when she was under 16. The prosecution must now decide whether to pursue these charges against Hoare, of Whitefriars Road, King's Lynn, in a retrial with a new jury. As previously reported, on Wednesday the jury found Hoare not guilty of one charge of indecently assaulting the girl when she was 11 and two charges of having sex with her when she was under 16. Hoare has denied all the charges although he admits he had a sexual encounter with the girl when she was 16. The allegations only recently came to light after the victim made a complaint about the abuse after she underwent counselling. When she gave evidence during the trial she said she had decided to come forward about the matter to try and give herself closure on what had happened and make sure nothing like this happened to anyone else. After the jury found Hoare guilty of five charges today, DC Elaine Goodall, of Norfolk Constabulary's Vulnerable People Directorate, who led the investigation, 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. “I would encourage any victim of abuse to contact us and discuss their situation. “We will always endeavour to conduct a thorough investigation, whenever the offences took place, and bring to justice those who abuse and mistreat children and other vulnerable people who have the right to be protected.”
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