• About
    • Ethics policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Ownership, funding and corrections
    • Complaints procedure
    • Terms & Conditions
  • Contact
  • Support
  • Newsletter
Brighton and Hove News
15 June, 2025
  • News
    • Politics
    • Business
    • Opinion
    • Community
  • Arts and Culture
    • Music
    • Theatre
    • Food and Drink
  • Sport
    • Brighton and Hove Albion
    • Cricket
  • Newsletter
  • Public notices
  • Advertise
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Politics
    • Business
    • Opinion
    • Community
  • Arts and Culture
    • Music
    • Theatre
    • Food and Drink
  • Sport
    • Brighton and Hove Albion
    • Cricket
  • Newsletter
  • Public notices
  • Advertise
No Result
View All Result
Brighton and Hove News
No Result
View All Result
Home Court

Lay preacher jailed for attacks on young girls in Hove in the 1970s

by Jo Wadsworth
Friday 28 Sep, 2018 at 4:38PM
A A
3
Lay preacher jailed for attacks on young girls in Hove in the 1970s


A lay preacher has been given an 11-and-a half year prison sentence for non-recent sexual offences against three girls in Sussex after an investigation by Sussex Safeguarding detectives.

Peter Ernest Bourne, 79, retired, of Moorefield Way, Great Stukeley, near Huntington, Cambridgeshire, was sentenced at Brighton Crown Court on Thursday (27 September), having been convicted on the same day after an eight-day trial on 14 counts.

These included one rape, five offences of indecency with a child, and eight offences of indecent assault, separately involving the three girls, all known to him, in Southwick, Hove and Worthing during the 1960’s and 1970’s while they were between the ages of 9 and 16.

He will be a registered sex offender for life.

He was found not guilty of the rape of one of the girls and of sexually assaulting another of the girls.

Detective Constable Andrew Roe of the West Sussex Safeguarding Investigations Unit said; “This investigation started two years ago when we received information for this first time, from a third party.

“A sensitive investigation was carried out to identify and gain the confidence of the victims, who had not disclosed and information to police for up to fifty years.

“Bourne had taken advantage of their vulnerability and exploited them each separately, for his own sexual gratification over several years.

“He refused to admit his guilt throughout, and when arrested he made no comment to all questions put to him.

“We also discovered that Bourne, who worked in a range of roles, including as a charity worker, a coal man and a driver, was also a lay preacher in various churches including evangelical and Baptist churches, in Sussex and elsewhere.

“However these vulnerable young victims became known to him through his personal life and not through his church activities.

“Due to the abuse that he subjected these individuals to, it has taken great bravery and strength for these individuals to come forward. Our thanks go to all of Bourne’s family still in Sussex who supported the prosecution case with information, and especially to the three victims, now adults in their fifties, came to court to give evidence against them .

“We will always take reports like this seriously and investigate to seek justice wherever possible, as well as enabling victims to access other sources of support and counselling. You can contact us at any time online or by calling 101, to arrange to talk in confidence to experienced investigators.”

For information about sources of advice and support to prevent and deal with child sex offending also see the Sussex Police website.

ShareTweetShareSendSendShare

Comments 3

  1. Joe Stains says:
    7 years ago

    Worrying that a man who appears on the surface to look like a ‘friendly uncle’ can be so wicked and vicious…

    Reply
  2. Dreadful Substance says:
    7 years ago

    Dirty little man, isn’t he?

    Reply
  3. Patrick says:
    7 years ago

    30 years ago, when I was a little lad my dad told me to ‘stay away from men that kiss’.

    It was good advice then, and it’s good advice now; I’m glad that this man has been jailed.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Most read

Former teacher honoured by King

Brighton man faces court charged with rape

Historic church prepares to take down scaffolding after 11 years

Neighbours thwart plans for 24/7 Burger King

Former Brighton councillor becomes CBE

King honours Brighton nurse turned politician, teacher, editor and others

Brighton school goes from special measures to good in three years

Lay preacher jailed for attacks on young girls in Hove in the 1970s

A deeply unequal city

Royal Albion Hotel owner submits plan for latest demolition work

Newsletter

Arts and Culture

  • All
  • Music
  • Theatre
  • Food and Drink
Top Left Club staying sick as ever!

Top Left Club staying sick as ever!

15 June 2025
Post-punk legends Theatre Of Hate play secret Brighton gig

Post-punk legends Theatre Of Hate play secret Brighton gig

14 June 2025
Gary Numan announces Brighton Centre concert as part of ‘Telekon 45’ tour

Gary Numan announces Brighton Centre concert as part of ‘Telekon 45’ tour

13 June 2025
In ‘Paradise’ with Safire in Brighton

In ‘Paradise’ with Safire in Brighton

10 June 2025
Load More

Sport

  • All
  • Brighton and Hove Albion
  • Cricket
Sussex Sharks open T20 Blast with a win

Sussex Sharks stay top of their group with T20 triumph at Glamorgan

by Blake Bint - ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay
14 June 2025
0

Glamorgan 172 (18.5 overs) Sussex 199-7 (20 overs) Sussex won by 27 runs. Sussex 4 points, Glamorgan 0 points. Sussex...

Sussex Sharks open T20 Blast with a win

Rain saves Sussex Sharks in T20 against Essex at Hove

by Adrian Colley
13 June 2025
0

Sussex 23-3 (3.1 overs) Essex 177-4 (17 overs) No result Essex’s hopes of claiming their first win of the season...

Brighton and Hove Albion announce Kostoulas signing

Brighton and Hove Albion announce Kostoulas signing

by Frank le Duc
12 June 2025
0

Brighton and Hove Albion have announced the signing of 18-year-old striker Charalampos Kostoulas from Greek champions Olympiacos on a five-year...

Brighton and Hove Albion agree £30m deal for 18-year-old Greek forward

Brighton and Hove Albion agree £30m deal for 18-year-old Greek forward

by Frank le Duc
12 June 2025
0

Brighton and Hove Albion have agreed a £30 million deal to sign 18-year-old Greek forward Charalampos Kostoulas, according to the...

Load More
September 2018
M T W T F S S
 12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
« Aug   Oct »

RSS From Sussex News

  • King honours longest-serving firefighter 14 June 2025
  • Chief Constable awarded King’s Police Medal 14 June 2025
  • Former MP made a CBE in honours list 14 June 2025
  • Council leader becomes OBE in King’s birthday honours list 13 June 2025
  • Gatwick-bound flight crashes 12 June 2025
ADVERTISEMENT
  • About
  • Contact
  • Support
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy
  • Complaints
  • Ownership, funding and corrections
  • Ethics
  • T&C

© 2023 Brighton and Hove News

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Opinion
  • Arts and Culture
    • Music
    • Theatre
  • Sport
    • Cricket
  • Newsletter
  • Public notices
  • Advertise
  • About
  • Contact

© 2023 Brighton and Hove News