Further offences alleged at Guildhall

Further offences alleged at Guildhall

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norman lebrecht

November 18, 2013

Here’s the latest statement from City of London Police:

 

guildhall-crop

 

For immediate release

 

Man arrested for historic sexual offences

 

Detectives investigating historic allegations of sexual assault yesterday (Thursday 14 November) arrested a 62 year old man on suspicion of attempted rape and three counts of indecent assault.

The arrest relates to alleged offences against four women when they were aged between 17 and 23, some of which are said to have taken place at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama between 1974 and 1988.

The man was first arrested on 23rd August this year on suspicion of separate offences of rape and indecent assault of a 16 year old girl in 1978. He was then later arrested on 3rd October on suspicion of further alleged offences of rape and indecent assault of a girl between 1988 and 2003 and the indecent assault of a girl between 1977 and 1982.

The man was interviewed by police and bailed to return in December.

Anyone with information that may assist with this investigation is encouraged to contact City of London Police on 0207 601 2222 or via the 101 non emergency number, you can also email: investigation@cityoflondon.police.uk. Alternatively you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Comments

  • Bill says:

    This is ridiculous,,, it’s the THIRD posting that you have done about this ‘Ex-Guildhall teacher’. Why is his identity being protected? I see that you had no qualms about naming the various Chetham’s and RNCM alleged ‘sex offenders’.

  • PK Miller says:

    I truly do not understand how anyone can prove anything 25+ years later. It’s like all the now grown up little boys and occasional girl in the US coming forward alleging abuse by priests etc., as much as 70 years ago (yes, there was a man who spent almost his entire adult life claiming physical/sexual abuse at an orphanage 60+ years previously by nuns who may not even have existed and, in any case have all faced their Eternal Judge). After his passing, his brother has taken up the cause)

    It’s why we have statutes of limitations. I highly recommend TEN YEARS across the board, the US, UK and Garrison Keillor’s mythical Lake Woebegone!

    • Phil says:

      Agree wholeheartedly. 10 years should be plenty of time for a person to ‘realise’ they have been abused and to summon up the motivation or courage to report it. In fact it should help focus their minds one way or the other, knowing there is a time limit. In this way it does everyone a favour.

  • Marguerite Foxon says:

    I wonder why you keep publishing stuff about this sexual abuse scandal. We’ve well and truly got the picture. It’s connection with the music topics this blog normally focuses on is peripheral at best.

  • Ian Pace says:

    The name of the alleged offender has not been made public by the police, and hence should not be published in a newspaper, on a website, etc. As for the relevance to musical topics, that should be obvious – this all relates to alleged widespread patterns of abuse of power at those institutions dedicated to training elite classical musicians from a young age. The stories are not going to go away anytime soon, especially when/if there are further trials.

  • Mark Barrett says:

    Norman’s story refers to allegations at this stage with regard to the arrest mentioned but we all know that convictions of other ghastly individuals have been secured; so I’m astonished by the comments from PKMiller, Phil and Marguerite Foxon. A great service has been done by Norman, Ian Pace, Martin Roscoe and others and yet still these comments come out of the woodwork. Phil, the levity of your remark pays no heed to the victims and alleged victims – should we put a timetable on pain, anguish and ruined lives? PKM, your post is so flippant it does not merit comment but Marguerite, you surely misunderstand completely since the connection with music is unquestionably direct and relevant! It goes to the practice of teaching and the shocking, despicable breaches of trust that have already been proven and, no doubt, will continue to be proven in several cases. We must have regard for those who have suffered at the hands of these vile people who have disgraced their profession, smeared the reputation of schools now tainted for the forseeable future. Should we exempt music schools from the same investigations that have been conducted among other schools and against other former prominent persons?

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