Former Methodist minister who 'hypnotised' boys using cloak and blanket faces jail for abuse

A retired Methodist minister has been convicted of sexually abusing four boys in the 1970s and 1980s, luring them with promises that his hypnosis techniques could help solve their physical and emotional problems.

John Price, 82, of North Yorkshire, contrived ways of being alone with the boys and claimed he could help them with stress, physical or emotional pain by putting them in a trance, a jury at Teesside Crown Court was told during the former minister’s trial.

The attacks took place at Mr Price’s manse, in the vestry, or at the boys' homes when he was a minister in York and Pocklington.

None of the victims, aged between 11 and 17, said they were actually hypnotised – but they froze in surprise and horror at what the respected church leader was doing, the jury heard.

Mr Price, a widower who walks with a white stick who is cared for by his daughter, kept his head bowed as the jury foreman returned verdicts of guilty for 13 counts of indecent assault.

Judge Howard Crowson remanded Mr Price in custody and adjourned sentencing for four weeks, but said jail time was inevitable for the former minister.

Medical evidence from the defendant’s GP will only affect the length of the prison term, if it does at all, said the judge.

Paul Newcombe, prosecuting, said Price had tried to use hypnosis in the belief that the boys would not remember what happened to them.

When one of the victims complained to a senior church figure, who has since died, he was told not to be "silly" and the matter was brushed aside.

The minister was prevented from using the title "Reverend" after he was convicted of a similar offence in 1999.