A vicar from the Church of England, described as a ‘dangerous sexual predator,’ has been sentenced to prison for possessing child abuse images that dated back 50 years.
Alec Johnston, now 78, captured these images during his tenure as a teacher at a prestigious boarding school. This institution, known for having alumni like singer Charlie XCX and being the chosen school for some of Rod Stewart’s children, became the site of Johnston’s predatory behavior.
He exploited his position by providing alcohol to his victim before taking indecent photographs. These images were eventually uncovered by law enforcement officers investigating the case many years later.
Johnston’s career at Bishop’s Stortford College in Hertfordshire abruptly ended in 1993. He was dismissed from his role as a History teacher after approximately 20 years due to inappropriate behavior towards a sixth-form student, whom he had developed an unhealthy obsession with.
Despite the scandal, which led to an industrial tribunal, Johnston retained his position as a Church of England vicar for several years following his dismissal from the school.
Cambridge Crown Court sentenced Johnston, who resided in Saltash, Cornwall, to 51 weeks in jail. Police were able to recover the incriminating images taken decades ago, further solidifying Johnston’s notorious reputation among his former students, who had nicknamed him ‘Phallic’ in response to his misconduct.
The victim went to police in early 2023 and Johnston took part in a voluntary interview with police on January 29 that year.
A subsequent search of his home uncovered the pictures which he had kept for five decades and he was later charged.
Church of England vicar Alec Johnston has been jailed for child abuse images he kept for 50 years
Pictured: Johnston teaching. The pupils in this photograph were not his victims
Detective Constable Jess Berg said: ‘I want to commend the victim for their incredible bravery in coming forward to speak of their experiences of Johnston’s offending, without them he would never have answered for his crimes.
‘He is a dangerous sexual predator, someone who took advantage of a position of power for his own sexual gratification.
‘This sentence hopefully paves the way for some closure for our victim, knowing that Johnston has been sentenced to time in prison.
‘I also want to thank Bishop’s Stortford College for their cooperation and their help with this investigation.
‘We know it can be incredibly challenging to come forward to report incidents of sexual offences. We take these reports very seriously and we will do everything we can to ensure that victims are heard and that offenders are brought to justice.
‘It does not matter how much time has passed, we were able to get this dangerous predator sent to prison for crimes he committed 50 years ago. You will be heard and we will do all we can to ensure justice is served.’
As well as working at Bishop’s Stortford College, where boarding fees are £15,966 per term, Johnston worked at Hockerill Church, in the Hertfordshire town.
Johnston was fired from the school in 1993 and lost a tribunal over his departure where it was heard he developed a crush on a schoolboy and pestered the lad when he left at university.
In the fallout of the tribunal he made allegations about music teacher Paul Parsons which led to his colleague pleading guilty for sex assault on a 14-year-old and a two-year prison sentence.
A former victim said police told him that Johnston’s claims had led to the investigation.
Parson’s defence council at the time also said the abuse claims had been raised by a ‘former school priest with a grudge’.
After leaving Bishop’s Stortford College, Johnston, took on Church of England roles in Bottesford Lincolnshire and then St German’s in Cornwall.
Johnston was sacked as a History teacher at Bishop’s Stortford College, Herts, after around 20 years in 1993 for pestering a sixth form boy he had a crush on
In 2010 a BBC report on St Germans Parish Church, near Saltash, said it was to be mothballed after Rev Johnston fell out with worshippers.
It said locals claimed there was a personality clash between regular churchgoers and Johnston.
The report said Rev Johnston had told BBC News he did not want to comment on the allegations, but said St Germans had been a difficult parish for both him and other priests.
A spokesperson for Bishop’s Stortford College said: ‘We are aware of the recent prosecution and imprisonment of Alexander Johnston, a former assistant history teacher at the school.
‘Despite the passage of time, it remains a matter of deep regret that a former teacher should have betrayed their position of trust in this way.
‘First and foremost, our thoughts are with the victim. We recognise the considerable courage it takes to come forward to report such matters, and we are grateful for the thorough work carried out by the police constabulary in this case.’
A spokesperson for the Church of England said: ‘These are appalling crimes. We are deeply sorry to all those who have been harmed and we recognise the courage it takes to come forward, and acknowledge that the impacts of abuse are life‑long.
‘Regrettably, the protocols in place at the time of Johnston’s dismissal from the school did not require an employer’s disciplinary information to be disclosed to the Church; those were the standards of the day and they fall well below the information sharing and safer recruitment requirements the Church follows now.
Johnston was fired from the school in 1993 and lost a tribunal over his departure where it was heard he developed a crush on a schoolboy and pestered the lad when he left at university.
‘We now know the offences were committed much earlier than 1995, but they did not result in a criminal conviction until 2026.’
The church said that Johnston’s file was reviewed in 2020 as part of the Church of England’s Past Cases Review (PCR2) process in the Diocese of Truro.
The statement added: ‘His Permission to Officiate had already been revoked and he held no church role, and the review found nothing in the file that alleged criminality.’
Separately two years ago an ex Bishop’s Stortford College teacher Andrew Bruce was banned for life from teaching after a Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) panel heard he had abused two boys while he was the director of music at the school.
