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Music teacher accused of choir sex offences
A music teacher has been charged with sexual offences against young boys while he was an adult member of a cathedral choir more than 20 years ago.
Mark Peterson, 46, is alleged to have committed the offences on boys aged 12 and 13 between 1978 and 1981 while he was an adult member of Guildford Cathedral Choir, Surrey Police said.
Peterson, formerly known as Mark Purkiss, was charged yesterday with attempted buggery, five counts of indecent assault on boys under 16 and three counts of gross indecency on boys under 14.
A spokeswoman for Surrey Police said 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 Peterson came to light after one of his alleged victims came forward to police.
He has also been charged with one count of possessing indecent images of children and one count of making indecent images of children. Both charges are current.
Peterson has in the past been employed as a music teacher and choirmaster at schools in Berkshire, Surrey, Kent and London, and has worked with choirs in the Netherlands and Florida, police said.
It is understood Peterson, who is from the Midlands, has resigned from his most recent post at a school in Berkshire.
He has been released on police bail to appear before South West Surrey Magistrates Court in Guildford on August 19.
A music teacher has been charged with sexual offences against young boys while he was an adult member of a cathedral choir more than 20 years ago.
Mark Peterson, 46, is alleged to have committed the offences on boys aged 12 and 13 between 1978 and 1981 while he was an adult member of Guildford Cathedral Choir, Surrey Police said.
Peterson, formerly known as Mark Purkiss, was charged yesterday with attempted buggery, five counts of indecent assault on boys under 16 and three counts of gross indecency on boys under 14.
A spokeswoman for Surrey Police said 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 Peterson came to light after one of his alleged victims came forward to police.
He has also been charged with one count of possessing indecent images of children and one count of making indecent images of children. Both charges are current.
Peterson has in the past been employed as a music teacher and choirmaster at schools in Berkshire, Surrey, Kent and London, and has worked with choirs in the Netherlands and Florida, police said.
It is understood Peterson, who is from the Midlands, has resigned from his most recent post at a school in Berkshire.
He has been released on police bail to appear before South West Surrey Magistrates Court in Guildford on August 19.
