Former Thatcham vicar walks free from court

The Rev. Peter Jarvis did not flinch as a jury returned not guilty verdicts on five sexual offence charges against two teenage girls and two teenage boys between June 1, 2008, and October 31, 2011.
Yesterday (Wednesday) the jury of seven women and five men cleared Mr Jarvis of seven other charges, including five counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, one of attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity and one count of sexual activity with a child.
However, they failed to reach a verdict over a final count of sexual impropriety and prosecutors have a week to decide if they want a re-trial.
The jury at Reading Crown Court, heard how the 50-year-old churchman was accused of making advances to the youngsters and sending them explicit text messages.
A court heard that the Rev. Jarvis befriended two girls and two boys in his care on Facebook and asked prying questions about their sex lives.
The court also heard he allegedly asked one young girl how much he would have to pay to sleep with her and told a teenage boy to take his trousers off for him.
The churchman, wearing a black suit, white shirt and black tie and carrying a brown leather satchel, showed no emotion as the verdicts were read out.
Rev. Jarvis, now of Spencers Wood, near Reading, Berks., denied all 12 charges which related to the alleged sexual abuse of four children from West Berkshire between 2008 and 2011.