Former music teacher at school boasting host of famous alumni jailed for raping two girls

A MUSIC teacher from a top arts school, which boasts an array of Hollywood stars among its ex-pupils, has been jailed for 11 years for raping two schoolgirls.

Phillip Pickett PA

Phillip Pickett

Even if they shouted, they could not be heard, as you knew well, having got them on their own and shut the door. The impact of these very serious sexual offences must have been very great indeed

Judge Charles Wide

Phillip Pickett, a former teacher at Guildhall School of Music and Drama, lured the vulnerable girls and a young woman into sound-proof practice rooms, where no one would hear their screams as he attacked them. 

The 64-year-old was found guilty of two rapes and two indecent assaults on his victims between 1979 and 1983 at the Old Bailey on February 10. 

Pickett, from Lyneham, near Chipping Norton in Oxfordshire, taught for 25 years at the leading classical musical school in London, which boasts a host of famous alumni including James Bond star Daniel Craig, Lord of the Rings actor Orlando Bloom and Downton Abbey actress Michelle Dockery.

The court was told that Pickett was arrested and charged after one of the victims alerted police after being prompted in light of the Jimmy Savile sex scandal.

At a hearing, Judge Charles Wide, who jailed Pickett earlier this month, ordered that two further indictments in relation to allegations by two women dating back to the 1970s lie on file. 

Reporting restrictions were lifted today. 

The first victim, who was 16 at the time of the attack, reported Pickett to officers in Suffolk, who referred the complaint to the City of London Police.

She went to the Guildhall School in 1978 as a sixth-form student to learn the recorder with Pickett.

The former music teacher was jailed for 11 years PA

The former music teacher was jailed for 11 years

During a lesson he asked her to take her top off, suggesting she needed to work on her breathing, then ordered her to lie on the floor where he indecently assaulted her.

In a lesson the following week, she was raped by Pickett. 

Afterwards, the victim told her mother she did not want to have lessons again.

Following Pickett's arrest over the 1978 assault in August 2013, more women came forward, resulting in charges related to two more victims who were 21 and 17 at the time.

The 17-year-old woman had told her parents of the attack at the time who then wrote to her school.

After taking a significant length of time to respond, the school said it had not received any other complaints about Pickett and suggested their daughter study elsewhere.

Correspondence gathered from the school during the police investigation uncovered a letter to Pickett from the then-headteacher dated March 20, 1984.

In it, the principal described his frustration that Pickett had not arranged to see him to discuss the allegations as he wanted to report back to the family.

Pickett taught music at the prestigious school between 1972 and 1997 as well as founding the New London Consort and Musicians of the Globe.

Jailing Pickett for a total of 11 years earlier this month, Judge Wide said his crimes amounted to a "gross abuse of trust."

The rape of a 21-year-old woman, the rape and indecent assault of the 16-year-old, and the indecent assault on a 17-year-old were offences that all aggravated each other, he said.

The judge added: "In each case there is the aggravating factor that this was a gross abuse of trust.

"You were this woman and these schoolgirls' teacher to a degree they were in awe of you, especially the schoolgirls, and, as far as they were concerned, this was specific targeting of a vulnerable victim, a girl you were teaching and you had power over who would be reluctant to complain and most unlikely to complain.

"There is the location of the offence in practice rooms at the Guildhall School of Music - sound-proofed, dark, you turned the lights out.

"Even if they shouted, they could not be heard, as you knew well, having got them on their own and shut the door.

"The impact of these very serious sexual offences must have been very great indeed."

One of the victims first sexual experience was the assault and rape by Pickett, the court heard. 

After he was convicted on February 10, Pickett even asked that his sentencing be delayed so he could tour the musical festivals of Europe before he was jailed. 

But Judge Wide rejected it, saying the defendant had his "head in the sand" and carried on as if nothing had happened.

He said: "Mr Pickett has just got on with his professional life, keeping these complainants waiting for months."

He handed down concurrent sentences of seven years, two years, 11 years, and 18 months for each offence.

The Guildhall School of Music and Drama, which charges fees of up to around £20,000 a year, is one of the world's leading conservatoires and drama schools and was rated No 1 specialist institution in the UK by the Guardian University Guide 2013 and 2014.

Famous alumni include Joseph Fiennes, Homeland's Damian Lewis, Sarah Lancashire, Neil Morrissey, Dominic West, Sir George Martin - the music producer who famously signed the Beatles to EMI - and Welsh opera star Bryn Terfel.

A spokesman from the school "wholeheartedly" welcomed the verdict. 

He said:  "Although these events took place several decades ago, this does not diminish our utter shock that a professional music teacher could abuse the trust placed in him by the school and its students.

"The Guildhall School wholeheartedly welcomes the verdicts. Justice has been done and our thoughts are with the victims of these dreadful crimes.

"The Guildhall School takes the duty of care of its students extremely seriously. Robust safeguarding procedures are in place at the school to ensure safe learning environments for all students and these measures are regularly reviewed."

Following the sentence, Detective Superintendent Maria Woodall urged any other possible victims, who have not yet come forward, to contact the City of London Police. 

He said: "Philip Pickett used his position of authority as an accomplished professor to abuse young talented women who were vulnerable due to their age and the fact they were students of his.

"He knew how difficult it would be for them to report his crimes to the school or to the police. These are appalling crimes and I would like to pay tribute to the victims' tenacity and bravery during the investigation.

"I hope they can take solace in knowing they may have stopped more young women being attacked, and others may now feel able to come forward.

"Philip Pickett's access to young women over such a period of time means that there could be more victims that have yet to come forward."

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