Chiswick Conductor Found Guilty of Indecent Assaults

Offered boys he taught alcohol prior to abusing them

Renowned musician and former teacher Robert King, has been found guilty of 14 counts of indecent assault at Isleworth Crown Court.

An investigation was launched by officers from the Met's Child Abuse Investigation Command after they received allegations against the 46 year old who was living in Redcliffe Gardens, Chiswick at the time.

After news of King being charged with a number of offences was reported in June 2006, two further men came forward and made complaints. King was subsequently charged in relation to these.

The abuse by King occurred between 1983 and 1994 and involved boys aged between 12 and 17 at the time. All played instruments or sang and came into contact with King through the classical music scene. He was a music teacher at one of West London's top academic private schools and many of his victim's were pupils there.

They told how King exploited his position as a classical music conductor to gain the trust of the boys and their families. The boys would be invited to his house after he had met them at concerts or being referred to him.

Once at his house King would progress from playing music with them and offering professional advice, to abusing them by performing or attempting to perform sexual acts on them. The abuse would sometimes occur during the first meeting at his home or after several visits.

King also offered alcohol to some of the boys prior to the abuse and during the grooming.

One boy met King whilst away performing in Europe and upon his return visited the boy's family before inviting him to his house. He would take the boy on trips to theatres and galleries.

In this instance he helped obtain a scholarship to a prestigious boarding school for the boy.

Throughout his career as musician, author, and broadcaster he won many awards and worked on film music for Ridley Scott's Kingdom of Heaven, Shrek 2 and The Da Vinci Code.

Detective Constable Emma MacDonald, from the Child Abuse Investigation Team at Ealing Borough, said, "The conviction of King is testimony to the strength of character shown by his victims to come forward and confront what he did to them. The victims speak of the detrimental effect King's actions had and in some cases continues to have on them.

"If anyone else has suffered abuse I would urge them to come forward and speak to our specially trained detectives. There are many support services we work closely with, who provide support to help you deal with the abuse you suffered. It may be that information provided stops others being a victim and puts the offender in prison."

Robert John Stephen King was sentenced to three years, nine months imprisonment.

Anyone who has been the victim of abuse can contact a member of the Ealing's Child Abuse Investigation Team on 020 8246 1901.

June 10, 2007