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13 May 2003

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Verger to the Queen Clive McCleester said today (TUES) the former choirboy who accused him of an indecent assault had told a pack of lies.

McCleester, 57, said he had no idea why the chorister had made the allegation against him.

Ian Paton, prosecuting, asked McCleester whether the boy had any reason to be vindictive.

He replied: ‘Not to my knowledge.

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But he added all choir boys could be ‘boisterous’ and it was the verger’s job to ensure a calm atmosphere in the cathedral.

Mr Paton: ‘He’s told the jury in your presence a pack of lies in some detail about what he says happend between you and him.

McCleester: ‘Yes.

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Earlier McCleester said he had informed his ‘line manager’ at Southwark Cathedral, Canon Peter Benwarden, that he had invited the boy round for a meal.

But Canon Benwarden died five years ago, the court was told.

McCleester said he had only given the boy a very small amount of wine.

‘If he had asked for wine I would given him a token amount,’ McCleester said.

But he said would not have given a boy of 13 two or more glasses in any circumstances.

McCleester said he has been off sick from his job as verger at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle since December last year, suffering from high blood pressure and depression.

He said he had also fostered a son who is now 43.

Giving evidence as a defence witness Daniel Brewer, a former chorister said McCleester ‘never took advantage’ of him.

Another defence witness Jonathan Durrant, a youth court magistrate in Winchester, had been a server at the cathedral in the city and would carry the cross in processions.

He said he knew McCleester for many years ‘and had never heard anything to his detriment’ about him.

The case was adjourned until tomorrow.

ends