Ex-teacher faces sex charges

A former teacher and choirmaster has been charged with a series of sex offences on boys dating back 25 years.

Mark Peterson, 46, faces a charge of attempted buggery, five charges of indecent assault on boys under 16 and three charges of gross indecency on boys under 14.

The offences are alleged to have taken place on boys aged 12 and 13 between 1978 and 1981 while he was an adult member of a choir, Surrey Police said.

Mr Peterson, who is from the Midlands, has in the past been employed as a music teacher and choirmaster at schools in Kent, Surrey, Berkshire and London.

Indecent images

A spokeswoman for Surrey Police said Mr Peterson's alleged victims were associated at the time with the Guildford Cathedral Choir and St Paul's Cathedral Choir in London.

It is understood the claims against him came to light after one of his alleged victims came forward to police.

Mr Peterson, formerly known as Mark Purkiss, also worked with choirs in the Netherlands and in Florida, a Surrey Police spokeswoman said.

He also faces one charge of making and one charge of possessing indecent images of children.

The police spokeswoman said these charges related to current incidents.

Mr Peterson is understood to have resigned from his most recent post at a school in Berkshire.

He has been released on police bail and is due to appear at West Surrey Magistrates' Court in Guildford on 19 August.