Conductor 'abused teenaged boys'

Robert King denies the charges

A leading British conductor sexually abused a string of teenage boys in his home, a court has been told.

Robert King, 46, allegedly assaulted five youngsters, one when he was just 12, after plying them with alcohol, Isleworth Crown Court heard.

Mr King from Earl's Court, west London denies 15 counts of indecent assault between 1982 and December 1995.

The conductor has worked on film music for Ridley Scott's Kingdom Of Heaven, Shrek 2 and The Da Vinci Code.

The court was told he was very well-known in musical circles and was in a position to advance the careers of the boys.

Mock wrestling

The jury heard he targeted one of the youngsters when he was director of music at a leading public school

Sarah Whitehouse, prosecuting, said: "In many cases, whilst he was performing these activities, he did it under the guise of some sort of game, such as a mock wrestle, or while he was towelling them dry after a bath he had supervised."

She told the court each of the five he allegedly targeted kept quiet about what had happened for many years.

All were now adults and although some of their recollections might now be "hazy", the accounts they had given police contained "very similar features".

She told jurors that when the "very well-known and undoubtedly very talented" defendant was interviewed he was adamant nothing "untoward" had ever taken place.

The trial continues.