During the 11-week trial a picture emerged of how trusted music teacher and choirmaster Burgess abused his position to prey on 12 young boys and one girl.

Jurors were told how he ‘sort of took on that dad role’ for many of the children but used that to abuse them, including in the vestry at All Saints Church in Portsmouth.

Burgess was a former Portsmouth City Boys School music teacher and choirmaster at St John the Baptist Church in Westbourne, and at All Saints Church in Commercial Road.

So ‘horrific’ was the abuse that one boy told police: ‘I thought… (the abuse was)… just part and parcel of being a choirboy.

Burgess, of St Chad’s Avenue, Hilsea, denied 52 sex offences against 13 children between 1976 and 2009.

He was found guilty of 26 charges of indecent assault, 15 of gross indecency with a child, four of buggery, two of sexual activity with a child and one attempted indecent assault.

Jurors spent more than 28 hours considering their verdicts.

Judge Ashworth adjourned sentencing until June 30.