Former cathedral music director sentenced to five years for child sex offences
A former director of music for Rochester Cathedral and assistant organist for Ely Cathedral has been jailed for five years for sexual offences against children.
Scott Farrell, 48, pleaded guilty to charges at an earlier hearing at Cambridge Crown Court, Cambridgeshire Police said.
He was sentenced at the same court on Tuesday.
The force said he admitted three counts of gross indecency with a boy under 16, two counts of voyeurism and one count of taking indecent images of a child.
The counts of gross indecency, which relate to three different victims, all happened in Ely, Cambridgeshire.
The remaining three offences were committed during Farrell’s time at Rochester Cathedral in Kent.
Police started to investigate Farrell, of High Street, Wouldham, near Rochester in Kent, after allegations were reported to them in November 2017.
It was alleged that Farrell befriended some of the children under his supervision while he was assistant organist for Ely Cathedral (pictured) between 1999 and 2001.
Police said that on occasion Farrell invited children back to his flat and would show them pornographic images and videos before carrying out sexual acts.
At the time police were made aware of these allegations, Farrell was working as the director of music at Rochester Cathedral in Kent.
He was arrested and suspended from his role while an investigation was carried out.
Farrell’s electronic devices were seized, which uncovered voyeuristic images and videos believed to have been taken on hidden cameras in bathrooms and bedrooms, some at his own flat, others at different homes.
In addition to this, 135 category C indecent images, category A being the most severe, were found which Farrell had taken himself.
Detective Constable Claire Bamford, from Cambridgeshire Police’s Child Abuse Investigation and Safeguarding Unit, said: “This has been a lengthy investigation spanning several counties and involved tracking down a number of victims and witnesses.
“I would like to thank the victims for coming forward and showing great bravery in speaking out about the abuse they suffered at the hands of Farrell.
“Hopefully this result will provide them with some level of closure and they can begin to put this part of their lives behind them.”
Farrell will serve two-and-a-half years in prison and the remainder on licence.
He has been placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life and will also be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 15 years following his release from prison.
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