Church Organist Escapes Jail for Child Sex Assaults

Eastbourne Herald
May 15, 2013

http://www.eastbourneherald.co.uk/news/local-news/church-organist-escapes-jail-for-child-sex-assaults-1-5086256

Michael Mytton leaves court after guilty verdict

A man who ran a children’s home in the Eastbourne area and was recently convicted of child sex abuse has narrowly escaped jail.

Michael Mytton, known as Mark, who is 69 and now lives in East Chiltington, was sentenced to nine months imprisonment suspended for two years.

The former church organist was convicted after a three week trial at Hove Crown Court last month of three counts of indecently assaulting a boy under 16 in the Newick area beytween 1990 and 1994.

Also sentenced for sexual offences against young boys between 19 and 27 years ago was priest Keith Wilkie Denford, 78 and from Shoreham who was jailed for 18 months.

Each man was also served with Sexual Offence Prevention Order (SOPO), to last until otherwise directed by the court, severely restricting their access to persons under-16. They must also sign on the Sex Offenders Register for ten years.

After the sentencing Detective Constable Lee Scott said, “None of these offences had been reported to us at the times they occurred. When one of the Burgess Hill victims learned in 2011 that Wilkie Denford was still active in the church he contacted us and we began enquiries.

“The separate victim of Mytton came forward later when he learned of the investigation. During the investigation we had full co-operation from the Diocese of Chichester.”

“We admire the courage of the victims in coming forward and being ready to stand up in court. Sussex Police takes all reports of sexual offences extremely seriously, no matter when they are alleged to have happened.”