Queen's organist guilty of abuse

Rees-Williams became organist at St George's in 1991

The Queen's former choirmaster has been convicted of a catalogue of abuse against children.

Jonathan Rees-Williams, 55, indecently assaulted children over a 14-year period from the mid-1970s, Reading Crown Court heard.

Rees-Williams, from Bristol, left his post as organist and master of the choristers at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, in 2002.

None of the assaults were committed during his time at the castle.

He sat me on his knee and I remember thinking 'Oh no, don't do this again' Abuse victim

In total five men and one woman told the court of childhood abuse by Rees- Williams, in locations including a cathedral organ loft, a church undercroft, his home, coaches and a train.

A high-profile figure in the musical world described Rees-Williams as an "outstanding musician" to the court and one of his former victims spoke of having been "in awe" of him.

Rees-Williams admitted five counts of indecent assault involving two boys but denied a further 10 counts, also involving male victims as well three charges involving a girl.

Jurors took four-and-a-half hours to reach unanimous verdicts on all remaining charges.

Rees-Williams confessed to a string of assaults on one 13-year-old boy, but he claimed it was the boy who had initiated the sexual contact.

The musician said he had felt "trapped" and feared the boy would tell someone about their relationship if he broke it off.

Indecent images

But prosecutor John Price dismissed this as a "travesty" and an "exercise in role-reversal".

Rees-Williams also admitted another indecent assault on a second victim who was also 13 years old, who he had invited into his house for a drink of orange juice after matins one Sunday.

The victim told the court how he was staying the night at Rees-William's house when the defendant came into his bedroom while he was having an asthma attack.

The jury was told: "He sat me on his knee and I remember thinking 'Oh no, don't do this again, not now'."

After the end of the trial on Tuesday it was revealed that police had also found 127 indecent images of children on Rees-Williams's two computers.

After the jury had returned its guilty verdicts in relation to the indecent assaults Rees-Williams entered a guilty plea to one charge of possessing indecent images of children.

The trial was adjourned to 26 July for sentencing.