A PREDATORY choirmaster who sexually abused 13 children has seen his 40-year jail term slashed.

The "conniving and exploitative serial paedophile" abused the children over a period of nearly four decades.

He was charged with offences relating to 13 children, all of whom were under the age of 16 during his time as a choirmaster at All Saints Church in Portsmouth and St John's Church in Westbourne, Sussex.

Burgess, 68 when he was jailed, was found guilty on May 28 last year.

But now the Court of Appeal has reduced his sentence after considering the cases of several sex offenders who were separately issued lengthy terms.

Burgess was originally handed a 25-year term with a consecutive special custodial sentence of 15 years and an extended licence period of one year. This made a 40-year term.

READ MORE: Mark Burgess, 68, jailed at Portsmouth Crown Court

Appeal court judges cut this to 31 years - comprising of a 16-year term plus a special custodial sentence of 15 years and a one-year extended licence.

As reported, Burgess was convicted of 26 counts of indecent assault, 15 counts of gross indecency with a child, four counts of buggery, one count of attempted indecent assault, and two counts of sexual activity with a child.

He taught at Portsmouth City Boys’ School as well as running choirs at the two churches.

The appeal judgment said: "All the victims have suffered significant harm with the effects described by a number as 'life-long'."

He added: "The offending was undoubtedly very serious. The victims were children, and the appellant acted in breach of trust."