A FORMER Christian Brother at a Merseyside school was today again jailed for abusing a young boy.

Paul Davey, who served as head of music at the De La Salle school in Croxteth, between 1983 and 1989, was jailed for 16 months for sexually assaulting a former pupil.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that the 58-year-old was jailed for two and a  half years in 1996 of abusing four boys from the school in the late 80s.

Judge David Aubrey, QC, told him: “The purpose and principle and mission of the De La Salle order is to touch the hearts of their students and to inspire them. 
You betrayed that, particularly you betrayed your victim.”

Philip Astbury, prosecuting, told the court that Davey’s fifth victim came forward in 2012 after the death of his mother.

He told police he had been abused at the school when auditioning for a school performance in 1987 or 1988, and at a De La Salle retreat in Berkshire at the turn of the decade.

On the second occasion, Davey told his victim to “keep your mouth shut” once he had removed his cassock and assaulted him, having pinned him down on a bed.

Judge Aubrey said the victim has told how he also suffered hands at the abuse of another involved with the Catholic church. “He now finds it hard to trust people; teachers and members of the Catholic church. 

“He also stated that the abuse had affected his faith and that he had been brought up in believing that members of the church were meant to help and protect him, and that trust had now been broken.

“He suffers certain flashbacks and the trauma will live with him forever. You were responsible in part for how he is now. You were there to protect him but for your own sexual gratification you abused him.”

The judge pointed out that the victim is still suffering more than 20 years after the abuse.

Davey, of Bentinck Steet, St Helens, admitted two counts of indecent assault.

Tom Watson, defending, said that Davey had been working for the Inland Revenue since his release from prison but has now resigned. He said the boy would have been 16 at the time of the abuse.

He said that Davey "is very frightened at the prospect of going back to prison", adding: "It was an experience on the last occasion that he will never forget.

“But despite the label that these offences gave him within the prison setting, he did his best to use his time positively. This court is dealing with a reformed character.”