Former Methodist minister John Price was yesterday jailed for eight-and-a-half years for hypnotising and abusing boys.

But it is not the first time he has been locked up for for preying on children– and it took nearly 40 years for justice to fully catch up him.

It is nearly 20 years since Price was first convicted of his appalling crimes – pretending to hypnotise his child victims, before sexually abusing them.

Price was a respected Methodist Circuit Minister working in the Masham and West Tanfield area when his crimes were first exposed.

He was jailed for nine months in 1999 after being convicted of 12 charges of hypnotising and sexually assaulting a 14-year-old boy between 1983 and 1985.

Those attacks were committed when he was a Minister at Pocklington – and it bore all the same hallmarks of the sickening assaults on the four brave victims who have just endured a trial at Teesside Crown Court, where he was again found guilty of assaults in the Pocklington area in the 1970’s and 80’s.

In the original trial, the court was told Price had admitted the assaults when first questioned by the police. But he withdrew his admissions, saying it was a mistake and that he had been unwell.

The jury did not believe him then – just as they did not believe him now – after hearing Price had hypnotised and assaulted the boy in the vestry of the church and at the manse.

At the time Stuart Burgess, leader of York’s Methodists apologised to Price’s victim on behalf of the church for the wrong he had endured.

He added at the time: “We all stand in need of forgiveness and I hope that John Price, his wife and daughter will be supported by church, family and friends.”

Price, now 82, and a widower, later moved to Bedale.

Local methodist leaders last night referred calls to the church’s national office in London.

A spokesman said Price is no longer active in the church after retiring in 1998.

A added: “Our thoughts and prayers are with all those involved with, and affected by, the trial. The church is continuing to work through cases brought to its attention through the Past Case Review into non recent abuse.

“Significant work has also been undertaken to reduce the possibility of the church being used by those intent on using it as a means to harm others, and ensure safeguarding concerns are investigated.”