A former Director of Music at Jersey's Town Church has been jailed for 12 years for sexually abusing four young boys whilst teaching in the UK.

Kenneth Francis (72) was found guilty of committing 15 counts of indecent assault and two counts of gross indecency while he was a teacher at a Chelmsford Boarding school in the 1970s.

During the trial, the jury at Chelmsford Crown Court heard Francis would give reward stars to pupils he abused.

Judge David Turner QC said his crimes left a lasting impact on his victims:

"Behind the facade of competency, respectability and uprightness you hid a dark paedophile inclination which was to blight the life of those boys and leave a profound legacy of psychological damage."

Francis came to Jersey in the late 80s or early 90s and worked as a self-employed music teacher before later becoming Director of Music at the Town Church - a role he was asked to resign from in 2017 when the allegations came to light.

Francis was asked to step down from his role as the Town Church in 2017.