John Bellamy (72) found guilty of sexual offences on children in the 1970s
John Bellamy convicted at Worcester Crown Court
Issued on 12/9/14 at 10:11 a.m.
A former choirmaster has been convicted for a number of sexual offences on children in the 1970s.
John Bellamy (72) of Kingsmead Road, Knighton, Leicester was found guilty of six counts of indecent assault and two counts of indecency with a child at Worcester Crown Court yesterday (Thursday September 11).
He was sentenced to two years in prison for each count of indecent assault and 12 months in prison for each count of indecency with a child, all the sentences are to run concurrently. He was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.
Bellamy was a choirmaster at St James the Greater Church in London Road, Leicester where he indecently assaulted several choir boys.
The police were contacted in 2013 by a former member of the choir who reported that he believed that Bellamy acted inappropriately towards him and others when they were choir boys in the mid to late 1970s.
An investigation was launched and during police enquiries a number of victims came forward and reported that they too had been victims of sexual abuse by Bellamy.
Detective Constable 878 Jamie Carr was the investigating officer, he said: “Bellamy abused his position of trust and to this day has denied any involvement in these incidents, because of his denial the victims have had to relive what happened to them more than 40 years ago in the court room.
“We are pleased that Bellamy has been found guilty of these offences and the conviction will hopefully help the victims, who showed immense bravery and dignity throughout the investigation and subsequent court proceedings, to move on with their lives and attempt to put those dreadful incidents behind them.
“During the investigation we also identified that Bellamy worked in various education establishments in Leicester and Leicestershire until his retirement in 1995, enquiries did not determine whether Bellamy may have gone on to commit further incidents during that time.
“We would like to take this opportunity to ask the public to contact us if they believe that they may have been a victim of Bellamy’s crimes, if you recognise his photograph or have any concerns please contact the police.
“It’s not always easy to come forward and report such crimes especially when the incidents may have occurred a number of years ago but please be assured that your concerns will be taken seriously, we have specialist officers and access to a number of agencies who can guide and support you throughout the process.”
Tuesday, September 02, 2014
Honorary Associate Priest The Very Reverend Dr Derek Hole Hon LLD Hon Dlitt, St James the Greater, Leicester, named in abuse case at Worcester Crown Court
I contacted the The Parish Church of St James the Greater, The Very Rev Dr D Hole, The Leicester Diocese and The Bishop to see if the have issued a statement or comment as to why Rev Hole did not report abuse to the police. The have all failed to respond.
Honorary Associate Priest The Very Reverend Dr Derek Hole Hon LLD Hon Dlitt
A former Provost of Leicester Cathedral, (from 2000 the role became Dean)
He was also the Vicar of The Parish Church of St James the Greater, Leicester
where he is currently a Honorary Associate Priest.
Each year a student from Leicester University is awarded
The Very Reverend Derek Hole Prize for Cardiovascular Medicine.
At Worcester Crown Court 3 Case No T20140380
At the trial of John Bellamy a former Choir master of The Parish Church of St James the Greater, Leicester. The Prosecutor Mr Thomas said one boy complained to his parents at the time and another came forward after the vicar, the Rev Derek Hole, became involved.
He said there was a meeting between the parents, Mr Hole and the defendant.
"The decision was made not to report the matter to the police (to) save the boys from court exposure and adverse publicity."
John Bellamy is charged with carrying out indecent assaults on five boys, aged between 11 and 14, when he was choirmaster at St James the Greater Church in London Road, Leicester, in the 1970s.
Bellamy, 71, got victims to strip naked during sessions at his house, allegedly designed to help the boys' breathing exercises, Worcester Crown Court heard.
The Rev Hole hold various senior positions within the Church of England one role is Vice President of THE ENGLISH CLERGY ASSOCIATION he is a former Chaplain to the Queen.
PATRON: The Right Reverend & Right Honourable
The Lord Bishop of London
Founded by the Rev’d EDWARD G. COURTMAN in 1938
PRESIDENT:
Professor Sir Anthony Milnes Coates, Bt., B.Sc., M.D., F.R.C.P.
PARLIAMENTARY VICE-PRESIDENT:
Sir Patrick Cormack, F.S.A., M.P.
VICE-PRESIDENTS:
The Rt. Hon. The Lord Dean of Harptree, P.C.
Sir William Dugdale, Bt., C.B.E., M.C., J.P., D.L.
The Rt. Rev’d Christopher Foster, M.A.
The Very Rev’d Derek Hole, D.Litt.
The Most Hon. The Marquess of Salisbury, P.C., D.L.,
The Hon. Sir John Owen, D.C.L., LL.M.
The Ven. Tom Walker, M.A.
The Rt. Hon. The Lady Willoughby de Eresby.
OFFICE ADDRESS:
THE OLD SCHOOL, NORTON HAWKFIELD, NEAR PENSFORD,
BRISTOL BS39 4HB. Telephone: 01275 830017
The Very Reverend Derek Hole, Emeritus Provost of Leicester, was ordained as a priest in 1960.
His first church was St Mary Magdalen in Knighton, Leicester and he spent six years as Rector of Burton Latimer, where he completely restored and reordered the church. From 1973-92 he was Vicar of the Church of St James the Greater, before being appointed as Provost of the City, a position he held until 1999.
As Provost, his legacy to his successor was the purchase of the house next to the Cathedral, now the Cathedral Centre. He was also involved in the planning of the development of the Western Burial Ground and the creation of the Visitors’ Centre.
He has served as Chaplain to the Queen, the first in the diocese for 54 years, to three Lord Mayors of Leicester and to nine High Sheriffs of Leicestershire and was Honorary Canon to Leicester Cathedral. Other chaplaincies include to the Haymarket Theatre, De Montfort Hall, Gild of Freemen of the City of Leicester, Leicester Girls’ High School and to the Master of the Merchant Taylors’ Company in the City of London.
He has been Rural Dean for Christianity South, Leicester; Chairman of the House of Clergy; Vice-President of the Diocesan Synod and a Member of the Bishop’s Council. Overseas, he has been Domestic Chaplain to the Archbishop of Cape Town and Commissary to the Bishop of Wellington.
He has played a prominent role in Leicester church charities, serving as Director and Trustee of the Leicester Charity Organ Society and Trustee of Leicester Church Charities.
Among the many organisations he has served are Priest Associate of the Actor’s Church Union; President of the Leicester Rotary Club; and Leicester Guild of the Disabled. He is an Honorary Life Member of the Leicester Branch of the British Red Cross Society and Chairman of the Board of Management of the British Australian Society. He has been Governor at a number of Leicester schools, and was made a Freeman of the City of London in 2003.
He is currently Chaplain to the Mayor of Oadby and Wigston, Chairman of the Leicestershire branch of the British-Australia Society and National Chaplain to The Royal Society of St George. He is also a Liveryman and Chaplain to the Master of the Worshipful Company of Framework Knitters. Mason.
Honorary Associate Priest The Very Reverend Dr Derek Hole Hon LLD Hon Dlitt
A former Provost of Leicester Cathedral, (from 2000 the role became Dean)
He was also the Vicar of The Parish Church of St James the Greater, Leicester
where he is currently a Honorary Associate Priest.
Each year a student from Leicester University is awarded
The Very Reverend Derek Hole Prize for Cardiovascular Medicine.
At Worcester Crown Court 3 Case No T20140380
At the trial of John Bellamy a former Choir master of The Parish Church of St James the Greater, Leicester. The Prosecutor Mr Thomas said one boy complained to his parents at the time and another came forward after the vicar, the Rev Derek Hole, became involved.
He said there was a meeting between the parents, Mr Hole and the defendant.
"The decision was made not to report the matter to the police (to) save the boys from court exposure and adverse publicity."
John Bellamy is charged with carrying out indecent assaults on five boys, aged between 11 and 14, when he was choirmaster at St James the Greater Church in London Road, Leicester, in the 1970s.
Bellamy, 71, got victims to strip naked during sessions at his house, allegedly designed to help the boys' breathing exercises, Worcester Crown Court heard.
The Rev Hole hold various senior positions within the Church of England one role is Vice President of THE ENGLISH CLERGY ASSOCIATION he is a former Chaplain to the Queen.
PATRON: The Right Reverend & Right Honourable
The Lord Bishop of London
Founded by the Rev’d EDWARD G. COURTMAN in 1938
PRESIDENT:
Professor Sir Anthony Milnes Coates, Bt., B.Sc., M.D., F.R.C.P.
PARLIAMENTARY VICE-PRESIDENT:
Sir Patrick Cormack, F.S.A., M.P.
VICE-PRESIDENTS:
The Rt. Hon. The Lord Dean of Harptree, P.C.
Sir William Dugdale, Bt., C.B.E., M.C., J.P., D.L.
The Rt. Rev’d Christopher Foster, M.A.
The Very Rev’d Derek Hole, D.Litt.
The Most Hon. The Marquess of Salisbury, P.C., D.L.,
The Hon. Sir John Owen, D.C.L., LL.M.
The Ven. Tom Walker, M.A.
The Rt. Hon. The Lady Willoughby de Eresby.
OFFICE ADDRESS:
THE OLD SCHOOL, NORTON HAWKFIELD, NEAR PENSFORD,
BRISTOL BS39 4HB. Telephone: 01275 830017
The Very Reverend Derek Hole, Emeritus Provost of Leicester, was ordained as a priest in 1960.
His first church was St Mary Magdalen in Knighton, Leicester and he spent six years as Rector of Burton Latimer, where he completely restored and reordered the church. From 1973-92 he was Vicar of the Church of St James the Greater, before being appointed as Provost of the City, a position he held until 1999.
As Provost, his legacy to his successor was the purchase of the house next to the Cathedral, now the Cathedral Centre. He was also involved in the planning of the development of the Western Burial Ground and the creation of the Visitors’ Centre.
He has served as Chaplain to the Queen, the first in the diocese for 54 years, to three Lord Mayors of Leicester and to nine High Sheriffs of Leicestershire and was Honorary Canon to Leicester Cathedral. Other chaplaincies include to the Haymarket Theatre, De Montfort Hall, Gild of Freemen of the City of Leicester, Leicester Girls’ High School and to the Master of the Merchant Taylors’ Company in the City of London.
He has been Rural Dean for Christianity South, Leicester; Chairman of the House of Clergy; Vice-President of the Diocesan Synod and a Member of the Bishop’s Council. Overseas, he has been Domestic Chaplain to the Archbishop of Cape Town and Commissary to the Bishop of Wellington.
He has played a prominent role in Leicester church charities, serving as Director and Trustee of the Leicester Charity Organ Society and Trustee of Leicester Church Charities.
Among the many organisations he has served are Priest Associate of the Actor’s Church Union; President of the Leicester Rotary Club; and Leicester Guild of the Disabled. He is an Honorary Life Member of the Leicester Branch of the British Red Cross Society and Chairman of the Board of Management of the British Australian Society. He has been Governor at a number of Leicester schools, and was made a Freeman of the City of London in 2003.
He is currently Chaplain to the Mayor of Oadby and Wigston, Chairman of the Leicestershire branch of the British-Australia Society and National Chaplain to The Royal Society of St George. He is also a Liveryman and Chaplain to the Master of the Worshipful Company of Framework Knitters. Mason.
