Uckfield priest jailed for sexually abusing two boys dies in hospital

A former Uckfield deputy principal and lay priest who was jailed in 2015 for sexual offences against two boys has died, the Ministry of Justice has confirmed.
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The Reverend Christopher Howarth, who was an inmate at HMP Lewes, died in hospital on Tuesday (March 10), the MoJ said.

The 72-year-old, who was a lay priest at Holy Cross Church in Uckfield, was sentenced to ten years in prison at Hove Crown Court on July 17, 2015, after a ten-day trial.

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He was found guilty of 26 offences including sexual assault, sexual activity with a child, taking indecent photographs of one of the children and causing a child to engage in sexual activity. He was found not guilty of five offences.

Christopher Howarth. Picture: Sussex PoliceChristopher Howarth. Picture: Sussex Police
Christopher Howarth. Picture: Sussex Police

A prison service spokesman told the Express: “HMP Lewes prisoner Christopher Howarth died in hospital on March 10.

“As with all deaths in custody, there will be an independent investigation by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman.”

The investigation into Howarth started in December 2012, when police were first told of allegations by the younger boy.

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Enquiries were made and Howarth was arrested in the same month. The second boy came forward with allegations during 2013.

In addition to the ten-year sentence, Howard was told he had to serve a further period of five years under licence supervision.

He was also given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) prohibiting him from contact from anyone under-18 and from employment involving young people, and was told he would be a registered sex offender for life.

At the time of the sentencing, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS South East, Jaswant Narwal, said: “The children in this case suffered long-standing and entrenched sexual abuse at the hands of the defendant.

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“He was a man they trusted in as a lay priest and a former deputy headmaster and he abused that trust in the most appalling way.

“It is clear that the appalling abuse that these two young boys suffered has had a devastating effect on them both yet, despite that, they were determined to see Howarth brought to justice and both of them

showed real courage in giving evidence at the trial.

“Now that Howarth has been sentenced for his crimes, we hope that they can begin the process of moving on with their lives.”