Son speaks of late mum's legacy after her abuser is jailed

Frances Andrade's son Oliver has spoken of the legacy of his "wonderful mother". Credit: Daybreak

The son of a woman who was abused by a choirmaster as a teenager and took her own life after giving evidence against him, has spoken of the legacy his "wonderful mother" has left behind.

Oliver Andrade told Daybreak his mother Frances had given other victims of historical sexual abuse the strength to come forward:

Read: Choirmaster guilty of sex abuse dating back 30 years

Mrs Andrade, 48, took her own life after giving evidence at the trial of choirmaster Michael Brewer. Yesterday the 68-year-old music teacher was jailed for six years.

Earlier this month, Brewer, of Swarthmore Road, Selly Oak, Birmingham, was convicted of indecently assaulting Mrs Andrade when she was an underage student at the prestigious Chetham's School of Music in Manchester.

Brewer's ex-wife Kay Brewer, of Knowl Gap Avenue, Rossendale, Lancashire, was jailed for 21 months after being convicted of one count of indecent assault against Mrs Andrade.

Oliver also said he thought the judge in the case was fair and accepted he had been restricted on the sentence he could give the Brewers due to sentencing guidelines at the time the offences took place.

Frances Andrade. Credit: Family Handout

Speaking after his mother had taken her own life, her son Oliver said: "As always she was fighting for others more than herself. She was forced to relive the many times Michael Brewer had sexually abused her as a child both to the police on multiple occasions and in court to a hostile party.

"Being repeatedly called a 'liar' and a'fantasist' about a horrific part of her life in front of a court challenged her personal integrity and was more than even she could bear."

Read: Sex abuse claims spread beyond Manchester music school