by Paul Hooper

phooper@thekmgroup.co.uk

Perverted church worker Peter Stewart was convicted of sexual assaults on a child "on the clearest and most compelling" of evidence.

But despite that he was jailed for his twisted assaults on Tuesday without showing any remorse.

Judge Adele Williams told the 38-year-old his refusal to accept his interest in young boys proved the only person "you are deluding is principally yourself."

Stewart - who moved away to Hampshire after the attacks in the 1990s - had been working at St Mary Bredin Church in Nunnery Fields, Canterbury as a pastoral assistant.

Canterbury Crown Court heard how he had been assigned care of youngsters on special courses.

But Stewart used his special position of trust to groom the teenager - encouraging him to take part in sex play - both at church and at his home.

The court heard during the trial how Stewart had used emotional blackmail, saying if the child trusted him he should prove it by kissing him.

The first trial ended when the jury couldn't agree, but at the second he was found guilty on four charges of sexual assault.

The court heard that since the attacks, he had been suspended from a teaching post after writing an "ambiguous" letter to another child.

Prosecutor John Keal said the letter - found on Stewart's computer- had never been sent but made "uncomfortable reading".

Stewart's barrister Stella Reynolds handed the judge letters from family and friends - some who refused to accept Stewart's guilt.

The judge retorted: "Then those people are exhibiting naivety. They should have listened to the evidence."

Miss Reynolds added that Stewart was a gifted teacher who had made a difference to the lives of young people - some who had been the victims of bullies at school.

She said he has now lost his career and probably his home in Hampshire.

The barrister added that Stewart had struggled with his sexuality within the church and had repressed his true sexual feelings - which had hung like the Sword of Damocles over him - as some within the church thought his sexuality and beliefs were incompatible.

Bearded Stewart was jailed for two years and banned from working or being with children for seven years.

See this week's Kentish Gazette for full story and reaction.