Trial of Former Uckfield Teacher Continues

Sussex Express
July 16, 2015

http://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/news/county-news/update-trial-of-former-uckfield-teacher-continues-1-6854741

Hove Trial Centre SUS-140217-222343001

The trial of former Uckfield deputy principal and lay priest Christopher Howarth is still ongoing.

The 67-year-old’s trial, over alleged sexual offences against two boys, began at Hove Crown Court on Monday, July 6.

The jury retired on Wednesday afternoon (July 15) and have been sent home this evening (Thursday, July 16) after a whole day of deliberations. The case will resume again at 10am tomorrow morning (Friday, July 16).

Mr Howarth, of Rocks Park Road, Uckfield, is charged with inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, five counts of sexual activity with a child, three of sexual assault on a child under 13, one of assault on a child under 13 by penetration and one of taking indecent photographs of a child.

There are further charges relating to another boy which include two of sexual activity with a child, two of sexual assault of a child under 13 and two of causing a child to watch a sexual act.

All offences are alleged to have taken place in the Uckfield area.

Until 2007, Howarth was deputy principal of Uckfield Community Technical College and, until his arrest in December 2012, a lay priest at Holy Cross Church in Uckfield.