A former Church of England minister from Grimsby is behind bars after he was found guilty of historic sexual assaults on six boys.
Terence Atkinson, 70, had denied 13 charges of indecent assault on a male but faced ten offences after the counts put to the jury were changed during his trial.
A jury at Lincoln Crown Court convicted Atkinson on nine of the charges after deliberating for three hours.
Atkinson, who was cleared of one charge against a seventh boy, showed no reaction as the guilty verdicts were returned.
Following the verdicts Judge Simon Hirst refused an application for Atkinson to be granted bail until he is sentenced “to put his affairs in order”.
Siward James-Moore, defending Atkinson, said: “He has a settled address.”
Judge Hirst told Atkinson: “The jury have found you guilty of all bar one of these offences.
“You know a prison sentence awaits you, and you will begin it today.
“You are remanded into custody and will be sentenced next Friday (December 23).”
The offences occurred against six different complainants, who can not be identified for legal reasons.
One of the victims has died since the offending but Atkinson was still found guilty of abusing him.
All the charges related to different dates between 1978 and 1999.
David Webster, prosecuting, said: “This is a case where charges of indecent assault are brought against Mr Atkinson.”
The jury heard Atkinson was initially a volunteer at various church youth groups and more latterly an ordained Minister in the Grimsby and Cleethorpes area.
Mr Webster said that whatever his benign motive to begin with, Atkinson took the opportunity to influence and then touch boys aged between 10 and 16.
The court heard Atkinson would invite boys back to his various addresses, and used strategies such as reading his electric meter and measuring them up for football kits.
“He betrayed the trust of these young boys and abused them,” Mr Webster said.
Mr Webster said the allegations took many years to be made, and occured during two distinct periods in the 1980s and 1990s.
There was a chronological break in the proceedings against Atkinson when he was questioned by police and denied any indecent touching.
The jury heard Atkinson later appeared before Lincoln Magistrates and more alleged victims came forward.
Mr Webster said Atkinson was interviewed again, and denied any inappropriate touching.
Atkinson of Tetney Road, Humberston, denied 10 charges of indecent assault on a male person.
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