Worthing pervert Neil Turner jailed over child sex offences

Neil Turner, 67, lured boys in his care to his flat in Worthing with offers of sweets and computer games.

He claimed he was learning “reflexology” in order to perform foot massages and to touch the boys’ feet.

The pervert admitted to police he gained sexual pleasure from doing so.

Turner, a former music and maths teacher at Shoreham College, was convicted of indecent assaults on boys in 2017.

Today he admitted ten more charges of indecent assault or sexual touching relating to seven children and one adult between the 1980s and 2015.

Turner taught at Shoreham College from 1986 until 1999 when he was dismissed

It was revealed that despite losing his job and being cautioned for assault in 1999, he continued as a choirmaster at St Botolph’s Church in Worthing.

He signed a contract where he was not allowed to be in contact with children without supervision.

But in 2015 Turner took advantage of another youngster.

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At Hove Crown Court, Dominic Connolly, prosecuting, revealed how the further crimes came to light as a result of media reports about Turner being jailed in 2017.

The prosecutor said he had warned one victim to keep his sick behaviour a secret, while telling other boys they were getting a treat.

It left some of his victims requiring counselling.

St Botolph's Church in Worthing where Neil Turner was a choir master

Steve Wedd, defending, said Turner, of Pevensey Garden, Worthing, had suffered an incident of abuse as a child.

He asked the judge to think about Turner’s “fall from grace” and said his client had been punished with a prison sentence once already.

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There were 21 letters giving the paedophile a good character reference.

But Judge Jeremy Gold QC said: “It is said you led an exemplary life and I have read excellent character references about the help and assistance you have given many people over the years.

“However to a large extent lies the problem that underneath the veneer of respectability lies your many sexual urges which you have consistently failed to control throughout your life.

Neil Turner has been jailed

“You have a foot fetish which led you to sexually touch a number of youngsters and a vulnerable adult.

“They no doubt trusted and admired you, but found themselves in a situation where you could touch them and take advantage of that situation.”

Turner was jailed for a further 28 months, and a sexual harm prevention order stops him from directing any church activities, or attending churches in West Sussex.

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