Music tutor jailed for sex crimes

Brian Davey was a respected music teacher and author

A respected music teacher trusted by parents has been jailed for 13 years for abusing young girls in his care who were aged between four and 14.

Brian Davey, 67, of Milton, Cambridge, was sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court after pleading guilty to 27 sex offences, including one attempted rape.

All the offences took place between 1971 and 1987.

Judge Bing told the court: "In my opinion this is one of the worst cases of child abuse one can imagine."

Heartbreaking

He added: "It was a heartbreaking experience reading the statements of the victims"

Davey was a well-known music teacher who taught in schools in Islington, Thames Valley and Cambs, and also provided private tuition.

Davey, who has written music books on playing the recorder, pleaded guilty to nine counts of gross indecency with a child, and 15 counts of indecent assault of a female under 16.

He also plead guilty to two counts of inciting a child to commit acts of gross indecency and one count of attempted rape of a female under 16.

It is clear that Davey is organised and systematic in his abuse Det Insp Neil Smith

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said Davey would often select students who he thought showed "promise" on the recorder and would approach their parents offering lessons at his home address.

He committed the offences on girls who were aged between 4 and 14 years old but mostly abused girls who were aged between eight and 10 years old.

Det Insp Neil Smith, from the Child Abuse Investigation Team, said: "It is clear that Davey is organised and systematic in his abuse.

Council 'appalled'

"He used his work as an opportunity to abuse, gaining the trust of his victims and their parents, purporting to teach their children in order to commit sexual offences against them.

"I would like to praise the courage and resoluteness of the victims, I cannot begin to imagine how harrowing it has been for them, and hopefully this admission of guilt will assist them all in their healing process.

He added: "There is a strong possibility that there are other victims of Davey's who have never reported their ordeals to police. If victims wish to speak to police about what happened to them I urge them to come forward."

After the case, Buckinghamshire County Council released a statement saying how "appalled" it was by the actions of Davey, expressing "sympathies to all the families and victims affected".

The statement also said: "We will be looking at all the evidence surrounding this case and considering whether the county council should be taking any further action."