Former parishioners of Robert Dando reacted to the Baptist minister's jailing in the US for child sex abuse.

Reverend Robert Dando, a senior minister at Worcester Park Baptist Church, was jailed for eight years at court in Fairfax, Virginia, on Friday.

He had previously admitted four counts of sexually molesting the two young sons of family friends over a period of several years.

He sexually abused the boys between 1995 and 1999, from the ages of seven and eight.

He will serve his prison term in the United States.

County officials previously told the Fairfax County Circuit Court one of the victims said Dando molested him by touching his genitals on 50 to 60 different occasions.

Dando, from Sherbrooke Way, resigned from Worcester Park Church after he was arrested in the US in July.

He was also removed from membership of the Boy's Brigade, in which his wife, Janice, was a vice-president.

A former parishioner in Worcester Park said: "We are shocked and saddened by Robert Dando's conviction.

"Our thoughts go out to everyone associated with the WPBC family.

"We have been associated with the Baptist church and through out children's involvement with the Boys Brigade and Girls Brigade and we have fully supported the youth groups at the church and have full confidence in the child protection policies and procedures that have been in place and which have been reviewed over the last year.

"Great praise must go out to the associate minister Lucy Wright and the church for the way they have kept us fully informed and reassured during this time."

Dando, from Sherbrooke Way, Worcester Park, who was a senior minister at Worcester Park Church from 2007 until his arrestin July, when he resigned.

He was also removed from membership of the Boy's Brigade, in which his wife, Janice, was a vice-president.

Members of the church and boys brigade remain shocked at Dando's crimes.

One member of the Worcester Park congregation said: "We still can't believe this has happened.He was a kind and supportive man"

Meetings were held with parents at both organisations to see if there was a chance any young people had been abused by Dando.

The Metropolitan Police said it had received no allegations of child abuse relating to the 47-year-old.

A spokesman for Worcester Park Baptist Church said: "Any allegations made of this nature within a Baptist Union of Great Britain church would be reported to the police and social services immediately.

"We are remembering all of those affected by this situation in our prayers at this difficult time."

Prior to this Dando was the Minister at Orchard Baptist Church, Bicester (1995-2006) and Grangetown BC Cardiff (1990-94) and Associate Minister, Ararat Baptist Church (1988-90) A former magistrate in Oxfordshire, Dando was understood to have been a member of the Oxfordshire Family Panel, which deals with child care and access proceedings.

One of his former parishioners in Bicester said: "At the end of the day he has to be judged before God, it says in the bible that leaders and elders are judged more harshly so God will judge him as he sees fit , but I think the courts have judged him harshly."

Dando was was sentenced to 10 years in prison with 8 years suspended for each count.