Court told Romsey Abbey verger regularly abused chorister

Stephen Castle’s 25-year alleged secret was finally exposed when the victim confessed to a psychologist and the police were called in, jurors were told.

Southampton Crown Court heard Castle, pictured, now 47, had been appointed as assistant verger at Romsey Abbey in May 1981 on a trial basis, but in September he was given the post full-time and a flat in the church grounds.

Prosecutor Andy Houston said Castle, who denies the charges, first assaulted the boy after inviting him to his flat to look at his record collection.

It was then that the verger made an lewd suggestion to him and then performed an indecent act, it is claimed.

Castle remained at the flat until December 1982, and the alleged victim later moved to the north of England.

However, in August 2007, he disclosed to a counsellor what had happened and later gave police a video interview.

Mr Houston said Castle also performed a sexual act against another choirboy who had found pornographic magazines in his flat.

“He had a sexual interest in boys in that choir,” he told jurors.

Castle, of Southcliffe Road, Southampton, denies 11 charges of buggery, indecent assault and indecency with a child.

He described the allegations as “a pack of lies”, claiming the chorister had only gone to his flat on five occasions after initially accepting an invitation to have a cup of coffee with him.

On the last occasion, Castle said he refused to allow the chorister into his flat and he bit his thumb. “He went away in anger,” he told the court.

Castle said he first knew about the allegations when he received a text message from his mother telling him to contact police.

Defence lawyer Stephen Parish asked him: “What was your reaction when the allegations were put to you?”

Castle replied: “I was shocked.”

He admitted performing a sex act with another chorister who he believed was 16.

“Looking back, I’m embarrassed. It was definitely a one-off. It was definitely inappropriate,” he said.

Proceeding