Guilty: Late Queen's Ex-Verger Admits Abusing Boys

The late Queen’s former verger was told yesterday he faces years of imprisonment after finally admitting he molested two thirteen year-old boys decades go.

Clive McCleester, 77, once served at Windsor Castle’s St. George’s Chapel and oversaw visitors to the Queen Mother’s tomb.

At Inner London Crown Court he pleaded guilty to multiple accounts of abusing the victims in the sixties, seventies and eighties, with counts reflecting his time at a school and Southwark Cathedral.

 

McCleester, who lives in the Grade I-listed Hospital of St. Cross almshouse in St. Cross Road, Winchester, was told he will receive a “lengthy term of imprisonment” when he returns for sentencing on July 10.

He first appeared in court in April, last year and finally admitted his crimes today, which include the abuse of one victim who is now deceased.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) won a court ruling allowing that complainant’s video-recorded evidence to go before the jury if there was a trial.

McCleester pleaded guilty to three counts of indecently assaulting that deceased male on multiple occasions between January 1, 1968 and December 18, 1970.

He pleaded not guilty to five similar counts and the (CPS) will not proceed to a trial.

The counts reflect his time employed as a child welfare officer at Tylney Hall School, Hampshire between 1960 and 1971.

McCleester lived at the boarding school in his own private residence, with a particular role in looking after the victim after the death of the boy’s grandmother.

That complainant went to the police after speaking with a counsellor, but sadly passed away in August, 2020.

McCleester pleaded guilty to four counts of indecently assaulting the second victim between July 28, 1986 and July 27, 1987 and three counts of indecency with a child between the same dates.

He pleaded not guilty to three counts of indecent assault, regarding the second victim, not guilty to an attempted sexual offence and the CPS will not proceed.

This victim was a Southwark Cathedral choirboy, abused at McCleester’s flat within the vicarage.

While at St. George’s Chapel McCleester organised royal funerals and was responsible for the day-to-day management of the chapel.

Judge Rosina Cottage KC announced: “The matter clearly needs to go off for sentence. Clearly it is inevitably going to be custodial sentence, whatever his health.

“Usually the only issue in cases like this are one of dangerousness. This happened a long time ago, but that is not to say there is not a risk.

“This will be a considerable sentence and given his age a pre-sentence report will not be helpful as long as there are medical reports before he is placed in custody for a long time.”

McCleester’s lawyer David Richard told the court: “He came back with these pleas of his own accord. He was not pushed into a corner.

“The pleas are his recollection of what happened.

“He has not put his matters in order and we ask for time to allow him to sort his affairs out. 

“He has appeared on bail today, knowing the guilty pleas will result in a lengthy custodial sentence.

“The almshouse are happy for him to come back. They have known about these proceedings in any event.”

The judge told McCleester, who now walks with the aid of a stick: “You know you will need to be sentenced and you will be receiving a lengthy term of imprisonment.

“I will grant you bail today so you can sort out your circumstances before you come back to court and you can see your GP.

“I make no promises because I am giving you bail. In fact, you have already been told you are going to receive a lengthy term of imprisonment.”