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Music teacher jailed for 'exceptionally serious' sex attacks
A former music teacher has been jailed for a series of "exceptionally serious" sex attacks on two schoolgirls and a young woman in sound-proof practice rooms.
Philip Pickett, 64, has been sentenced to 11 years in prison after being found guilty of two rapes and two indecent assaults between 1979 and 1983.
The Old Bailey heard how Pickett, who taught at the prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama, lured vulnerable pupils into practice rooms, where no one would hear their screams, before assaulting them.
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Teacher lured pupils to soundproof rooms before raping them
An internationally renowned teacher, at one of Britain's most prestigious music schools, has been jailed for "exceptionally serious" historical sex assaults on two schoolgirls and a young woman.
Philip Pickett was only jailed after one of his victims came forward following the Jimmy Savile scandal.
ITV News Correspondent Paul Davies reports.
Police: More women may have been attacked by teacher
Police believe more women could have been attacked by former music teacher Philip Pickett as they urged potential victims to come forward.
Speaking after the teacher was jailed for 11 years, Detective Superintendent Maria Woodall said Pickett used his position of authority to carry out the "appalling crimes".
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Music school 'utterly shocked' at ex-teacher's abuse
A music school where a former teacher carried out "exceptionally serious" sex attacks on three women has said it is in "utter shock" at his crimes.
Philip Pickett was jailed for 11 years after being found guilty of two rapes and two indecent assaults on his victims between 1979 and 1983.
Pickett - who worked at Guildhall School of Music and Drama for over 25 years - lured his victims to sound-proofed music rooms where no one could hear their cries, the Old Bailey heard.
A spokesperson for the renowned school 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."
Music teacher's sex attacks were 'gross abuse of trust'
Sentencing former music teacher Philip Pickett to 11 years in prison, Judge Charles Wide said his crimes amounted to a "gross abuse of trust":
Music teacher jailed for 'exceptionally serious' sex attacks
A former music teacher has been jailed for 11 years today after being found guilty of "exceptionally serious" sex attacks on two schoolgirls and a young woman in sound-proof practice rooms.
Philip Pickett, 64, who taught at the prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama, was found guilty of two rapes and two indecent assaults on his victims between 1979 and 1983.
The professional recorder player lured vulnerable pupils into practice rooms where no one would hear their screams before shutting the door, turning out the light and assaulting them, the court heard.
Pickett ordered one victim, who was 16 at the time, to remove her top during a lesson, suggesting she needed to work on her breathing before he told her to lie on the floor where he indecently assaulted her.
In the following lesson, the girl was raped by Pickett.
Charges were brought against Pickett after one of the victims alerted police after being prompted in light of the Jimmy Savile sex scandal.