Pop mogul jailed for sex abuse

Jonathan King still believes he has done nothing wrong

Former music impresario Jonathan King has been jailed for seven years for sexual abuse.

King, charged under his real name Kenneth King, was found guilty of four indecent assaults and two serious sexual offences against boys aged 14 and 15, committed in the 1980s.

He will have to sign the sex offenders' register for life and will be barred from working with children.

You used your fame and success to attract adolescent and impressionable boys

Judge David Paget

King, who denied all the charges, continues to protest his innocence on his website.

His lawyers said they had already lodged an appeal to the High Court.

Judge David Paget told a pale and shaken King: "This was a serious breach of trust.

"You used your fame and success to attract adolescent and impressionable boys."

The 56-year-old former television presenter, who lives in Bayswater, west London, was convicted on 27 September.

But reporting restrictions were not lifted until Wednesday because other allegations were being dealt with.

Other allegations

A second trial collapsed on Tuesday, partly because a complainant was unsure of the dates involved.

The prosecution, after a meeting with detectives, decided not to continue with further charges.

What he really gave them was his company, the company and interest of a celebrity

David Jeremy QC
Prosecuting

King was first questioned and charged last year after the initial allegations but more complainants came forward following the publicity.

He said "thousands" of youngsters had been in his home over the years as part of his market research into teenagers' musical tastes.

The court heard that his "method" involved luring teenage boys back to his home before showing them pictures of naked women and assaulting them.

A search of his home by police revealed some of these photos, as well as several hundred photos of teenage boys which were not indecent.

Boys' gifts

King had met boys who were on holidays or day trips to London, often accosting them on the street either on foot or in his car.

He offered lifts in his Rolls Royce, giving them signed t-shirts and records after attacks.

David Jeremy QC, prosecuting, told the jury: "What he really gave them was his company, the company and interest of a celebrity.

King also gave evidence and mocked them - I am happy to say the jury saw through King's deceit

DI Brian Marjoram
Surrey Police

"It is not hard to imagine how these young men would have felt flattered and excited by the attention of such a person."

Celebrities who gave evidence as to King's character included lyricist Sir Tim Rice, former Radio One DJ Simon Bates, and Wheel of Fortune hostess Jenny Powell.

But questioned by Mr Jeremy, it soon became obvious that they did not realise the full extent of the accusations.

First fame

The former music impresario is well-known for a lengthy career in music as a performer, songwriter, TV presenter and record executive.

You can't prove you didn't do something 18, 25 or 32 years ago

Jonathan King
Pre-recorded statement

In a pre-recorded statement released through his website, King said it was "unfair" allegations could be made after so many years.

He said: "It is incredibly unfair that people can go back numerous years, in my case as far as 32 years but it can be 40 or 50 years.

'Victims mocked by King'

"You can't prove you didn't do something 18, 25 or 32 years ago.

"It is simply their word against mine. They say it happened, I say it didn't."

Speaking outside the Old Bailey, Detective Inspector Brian Marjoram of Surrey Police, said: "He put these victims through a very harrowing time in court. They were accused of fantasising and distorting the truth.

"King also gave evidence and mocked them - I am happy to say the jury saw through King's deceit."

King is now in Belmarsh prison in south east London, awaiting transfer to another jail.