A former Havering choirmaster has been charged with dozens of child sex offences spanning more than four decades.

David Pickthall, 65, of Cheveley Park, Cheveley, Suffolk, has been accused of offences against 19 people between 1980 and 2021 in Havering and Brentwood, Essex Police announced today (August 27).

Pickthall has been charged with 24 counts of indecent assault, ten counts of observing a person doing a private act and three counts of making an indecent image of a child.

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The 65-year-old formerly worked as a choirmaster in Havering and as a teacher in Brentwood during some of the 41-year period, police said.

He is due to appear at Colchester Magistrates' Court on October 8.

Anyone who has any information relating to this investigation is asked to contact Essex Police, quoting crime reference number 42/238353/21.

If you would like to make an anonymous report, contact independent charity @Crimestoppers by visiting their website or by calling 0800 555 111.