Former Isle of Wight assistant church organist jailed for sexually abusing child in the 1990s

A former assistant church organist and youth club worker has been jailed for the non-recent sexual abuse of a child on the Isle of Wight.

Police received a report on 23 May 2022 from a man reporting that David Tickner had abused him when he was a child in the 1990s.

Tickner, now aged 61, was assistant organist at a local church in Newport at the time, and also helped run the church youth club.

Following a police investigation, Tickner went to trial at Salisbury Crown Court on 22 July this year to face one count of indecent assault on the boy, which took place at an address in Newport on an occasion between 1994 and 1996 when the boy was aged between 14 and 16.

The trial proceeded for four days before the jury found Tickner guilty, and he was remanded into custody.

Appearing at Salisbury Crown Court on Friday 22 November, Tickner, of Cook Avenue in Newport, was jailed for six years.

DC Julia Parker, who led the investigation, said: “Tickner exploited the contact he had with this boy through his work in the church in order to sexually abuse him.

“The impact this had on this child, now a grown man, cannot be understated. This type of abuse leaves irreparable lifelong trauma, and I commend the courage shown by the victim in this case for speaking out and reliving his childhood suffering to support this police investigation.

“We will never tolerate any form of child abuse, and I want anyone else affected to feel reassured that we will listen to you, support you and thoroughly investigate any allegation you make to police.”

We want to encourage anyone who has been affected by child sexual abuse to contact police on 101, where you can speak to an officer in confidence.

We recognise that not everyone has the confidence to talk to police about what they have experienced. Please be reassured that there are other services available that can offer you specialist support to help you deal with the impact of abuse.

For information and contact details relating to sexual abuse support services, you can visit our dedicated web page: https://www.hampshire.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/rsa/rape-and-sexual-assault/support-for-victims-of-rape-and-sexual-assault/

You can also find out more about how to report, and seek support for child abuse here: https://www.hampshire.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/caa/child-abuse/

Alternatively, contact Child Line on 0800 11 11, or if you are an adult who has been affected, you can call the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000.