Hove Court Hears of 'Raucous' Party of Sex Assault Accused Priest

The Argus
March 19, 2013

http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/10298685.___Raucous____party_of_sex_assault_accused_priest/

Father Keith Wilkie Denford

Michael Mytton

A former choirboy described a “sexually charged” party which he attended with a priest accused of assaulting him.

The man, who was a teenager in the 1980s, said he felt “singled out” by ex-priest, Father Keith Wilkie Denford, and church organist, Michael Mytton, who are both accused of sexually assaulting him and another boy.

Yesterday the alleged victim told jurors at Hove Crown Court that he worked as a waiter at a “raucous” dinner party organised by Denford, now of Broad Reach Mews, Shoreham, who at the time led the flock at John the Evangelist Church in Burgess Hill.

Previously the court was told that after the party the boy and his friend were given alcohol and Denford got in the bath with one of the youngsters.

The court was told this was the boy’s first sexual experience.

The alleged victim, speaking from behind a screen, recounted his experience of the party in question, which took place at Denford’s home.

He admitted: “It was very raucous. I would describe it as sexually charged.

“There were a couple of comments made like, ‘You are a pretty young boy’.”

He said that he felt “singled out” by Denford, 78, and Michael Mytton, 68, now of South Road, East Chiltington.

Denford denies four counts of indecent assault between January 1987 and January 1990.

Mytton denies one count of aiding and abetting indecent assault and five counts of indecent assault between January 1987 and September 1994.

The trial continues.