A GIFTED choirmaster was jailed for three years today for sexually assaulting two young boys 40 years ago.

Andrew Teague, who has performed with choirs in cathedrals up and down the country, committed the offences when he was a young music teacher in his early 20s.

Teague, who is now 63 and a former organist and Master of Choristers at Bradford Cathedral, appeared for sentence at St Albans Crown Court.

He pleaded guilty to three offences of indecent assault on two young teenage boys in 1975.

It happened when he was a freelance music teacher and organist living in Hertford and connected to two church choirs in the area.

The court was told that both victims had kept quiet for years about the abuse and only spoke to the police in 2013 which led to Teague being arrested at his then home in Pasture Lane, Clayton, Bradford, last year.

Sally Mealing-McLeod, prosecuting, said the parents of one victim had arranged for him to have private music lessons with Teague, who was organist for the choir at All Saints Church in Hertford, at his flat in the town where the boy, then 13, was sexually assaulted.

The court was told how that same year Teague targeted another young boy who was singing in the choir at St Michael's Church in Bishop's Stortford, for which he was also the organist. The boy, who was 14, was also sexually assaulted.

Judge Stephen Warner was told that neither victim had spoken about the abuse until years later when they were grown men.

Following his arrest he rented out his Bradford home and now lives with his wife in Rue des Marchands de Vin, Rancon in France.

Antonie Muller, mitigating, said "He is 63 and these offences 40 years ago are the only offences in his entire life. He was then a young man in his 20s. He is now a retired man in his 60s.

"Deep down he is a decent man save for these offences he committed all those years ago."

The court was told that as a result of Teague pleading guilty to the offences, he had lost work in Canada and his career was effectively over.

Passing sentence, Judge Warner told Teague he had committed the offences as a 22-year-old music teacher who was in a position of trust.

Judge Warner said it was sad that Teague should have used his undoubted and considerable talent as a music teacher to commit the offences.

"This was, on any showing, a gross breach of trust which involved targeting children in your charge," said the judge.

He jailed Teague for three years and said he would be made the subject of a sexual offences prevention order to run for six years.

In addition, the defendant was told he was barred from working with children.

His name will also be added to the sex offenders' register.