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How Chetham's teacher groomed pupil for abuse: 'He made me feel like it was my fault' How Chetham's teacher groomed pupil for abuse: 'He made me feel like it was my fault'
(about 2 hours later)
Rachel discovered the fate of her former abuser on social media. An officer from Greater Manchester police had tried to phone her on Tuesday night but she had missed the calls. Curious what the police might be trying to tell her, she put the name of her former music teacher into Twitter.Rachel discovered the fate of her former abuser on social media. An officer from Greater Manchester police had tried to phone her on Tuesday night but she had missed the calls. Curious what the police might be trying to tell her, she put the name of her former music teacher into Twitter.
That was when she found out Chris Ling was dead, having apparently shot himself in his Los Angeles home as marshals arrived to arrest him ahead of his extradition to the UK.That was when she found out Chris Ling was dead, having apparently shot himself in his Los Angeles home as marshals arrived to arrest him ahead of his extradition to the UK.
Despite spending much of the last 25 years terrified at the prospect of coming face to face with him again, it was not the news she wanted to hear.Despite spending much of the last 25 years terrified at the prospect of coming face to face with him again, it was not the news she wanted to hear.
Had he been forced on to a plane to Manchester, Ling would have been arrested again as soon as he set foot on British soil. He would then have been charged with 77 counts of indecent assault against 11 girls aged nine to 15 between 1983 and 1990.Had he been forced on to a plane to Manchester, Ling would have been arrested again as soon as he set foot on British soil. He would then have been charged with 77 counts of indecent assault against 11 girls aged nine to 15 between 1983 and 1990.
Not detailed on the charge sheet, however, was the way he manipulated and groomed his pupils time after time, suggesting to young girls they take their clothes off during lessons.Not detailed on the charge sheet, however, was the way he manipulated and groomed his pupils time after time, suggesting to young girls they take their clothes off during lessons.
Of his victims, 10 were his former pupils at Chetham’s school of music in Manchester, where he taught violin in the 1980s. One of them was Rachel (not her real name). She was a teenager when Ling took her on as a pupil.Of his victims, 10 were his former pupils at Chetham’s school of music in Manchester, where he taught violin in the 1980s. One of them was Rachel (not her real name). She was a teenager when Ling took her on as a pupil.
In the highly competitive music school, Ling was seen as the best violin teacher and the coolest too – different, in his cowboy boots, leather jackets and moustache. He inspired devotion, encouraging his favourite charges – usually innocent, naive and vulnerable girls – to practise for up to 10 hours a day. In the highly competitive music school, Ling was seen as the best violin teacher and the coolest too – different, in his cowboy boots, leather jackets and moustache. He inspired devotion, encouraging his favourite charges – usually innocent, naive and vulnerable girls – to practice for up to 10 hours a day.
Other pupils noticed how the Ling Strings, as his devotees became known on the central Manchester campus, started to dress differently once they began learning with him. Their skirts became shorter, their tops tighter.Other pupils noticed how the Ling Strings, as his devotees became known on the central Manchester campus, started to dress differently once they began learning with him. Their skirts became shorter, their tops tighter.
Lessons moved from the practice suites at the school to Ling’s homes in Sale, Salford and Reading. He would take them for rides in his sports car, and buy them dinner and drinks in pubs. Being taught by Ling was like being part of an exclusive club. But membership had its costs.Lessons moved from the practice suites at the school to Ling’s homes in Sale, Salford and Reading. He would take them for rides in his sports car, and buy them dinner and drinks in pubs. Being taught by Ling was like being part of an exclusive club. But membership had its costs.
He first abused Rachel when she stayed over at his house in Reading after a concert, aged 14 or 15. He said she looked stressed and offered her a massage. Afraid to refuse, she agreed.He first abused Rachel when she stayed over at his house in Reading after a concert, aged 14 or 15. He said she looked stressed and offered her a massage. Afraid to refuse, she agreed.
“Soon it went way beyond a normal massage,” she said. “He started with my shoulders and then told me to turn over so I was lying on my back. Then he started massaging my breasts. He didn’t leap on top of me. He knew how it works with blame.“Soon it went way beyond a normal massage,” she said. “He started with my shoulders and then told me to turn over so I was lying on my back. Then he started massaging my breasts. He didn’t leap on top of me. He knew how it works with blame.
“He made me feel like it was my fault. I didn’t say anything because I felt such an idiot. I hadn’t realised that the massage was going to be sexual in nature. I felt stupid and naive.”“He made me feel like it was my fault. I didn’t say anything because I felt such an idiot. I hadn’t realised that the massage was going to be sexual in nature. I felt stupid and naive.”
He took her to his bedroom and started kissing her so violently she feared she would choke, he asked her to touch him intimately. “He didn’t force me but he asked me quite a few times … it was repulsive but I didn’t know what to do.”He took her to his bedroom and started kissing her so violently she feared she would choke, he asked her to touch him intimately. “He didn’t force me but he asked me quite a few times … it was repulsive but I didn’t know what to do.”
She didn’t know what to think. Did it mean he liked her? Loved her? Was he now her boyfriend?She didn’t know what to think. Did it mean he liked her? Loved her? Was he now her boyfriend?
“I thought that if people did sexual things then it meant they loved each other. The next day he came to talk to me about it and said it was a very natural thing between a man and a woman. I asked him what about his girlfriend? He said it wasn’t anything to do with her and was a natural thing.”“I thought that if people did sexual things then it meant they loved each other. The next day he came to talk to me about it and said it was a very natural thing between a man and a woman. I asked him what about his girlfriend? He said it wasn’t anything to do with her and was a natural thing.”
Ling departed the school in 1990 and eventually settled in Los Angeles, earning a living as a talent agent for classical artists.Ling departed the school in 1990 and eventually settled in Los Angeles, earning a living as a talent agent for classical artists.
But before he left, Ling had made abusing Rachel, still 15 at most, a habit. He used to invite her into the “coffee cupboard” – a cubbyhole along the corridor from an office occupied by Michael Brewer, who was convicted in 2013 of sexually abusing a Chetham’s pupil when she was just 14. Brewer’s victim, Frances Andrade, killed herself halfway through the trial after giving evidence against him.But before he left, Ling had made abusing Rachel, still 15 at most, a habit. He used to invite her into the “coffee cupboard” – a cubbyhole along the corridor from an office occupied by Michael Brewer, who was convicted in 2013 of sexually abusing a Chetham’s pupil when she was just 14. Brewer’s victim, Frances Andrade, killed herself halfway through the trial after giving evidence against him.
Rachel last saw Ling 25 years ago. Shortly after he left, Rachel – still only a teenager – was interviewed along with a number of other girls by Manchester police about Ling. She told them everything, but the investigation stalled.Rachel last saw Ling 25 years ago. Shortly after he left, Rachel – still only a teenager – was interviewed along with a number of other girls by Manchester police about Ling. She told them everything, but the investigation stalled.
Detectives reopened the case in February 2013 after Brewer was sentenced to six years in jail and the Guardian ran an article featuring the testimony of 10 of Ling’s former pupils. Rachel gave a video interview and agreed to testify against him but her hopes of a conviction were low.Detectives reopened the case in February 2013 after Brewer was sentenced to six years in jail and the Guardian ran an article featuring the testimony of 10 of Ling’s former pupils. Rachel gave a video interview and agreed to testify against him but her hopes of a conviction were low.
“I knew there were so many charges against him but I knew how persuasive and manipulative he can be. I watched him manipulate and control not just children but also so many adults,” she said.“I knew there were so many charges against him but I knew how persuasive and manipulative he can be. I watched him manipulate and control not just children but also so many adults,” she said.
“One of my worries was that the jury wouldn’t understand the grooming process, wouldn’t understand why some of us carried on being taught by him even after the abuse.”“One of my worries was that the jury wouldn’t understand the grooming process, wouldn’t understand why some of us carried on being taught by him even after the abuse.”
With Ling dead, there can be no trial. Rachel is not sure how she feels about his death.With Ling dead, there can be no trial. Rachel is not sure how she feels about his death.
“Obviously, I don’t want him to be able to harm any more people. But I think the fallout from suicide is harmful, for his family and for everyone else connected in a way. It involves us.“Obviously, I don’t want him to be able to harm any more people. But I think the fallout from suicide is harmful, for his family and for everyone else connected in a way. It involves us.
“When someone you know does this, it leaves a very dark stain on the world. Suicide is such a horrible thing to end up doing. People say it’s cowardly but it takes a totally different kind of courage to do it.”“When someone you know does this, it leaves a very dark stain on the world. Suicide is such a horrible thing to end up doing. People say it’s cowardly but it takes a totally different kind of courage to do it.”
Ling ruined music for Rachel. He sexualised so many pieces for her that she can no longer bear to hear them. She played professionally for a few years but felt she had never developed a true sense of natural musicality because of Ling. “I was always trying to hide so much,” she said.Ling ruined music for Rachel. He sexualised so many pieces for her that she can no longer bear to hear them. She played professionally for a few years but felt she had never developed a true sense of natural musicality because of Ling. “I was always trying to hide so much,” she said.
She remains angry at Chetham’s. She remembers a number of girls putting together a dossier of his abuse but refused to contribute – “I didn’t help because I was in denial then,” she says. “The school knew and yet they blithely let a number of girls go off to America with him.”She remains angry at Chetham’s. She remembers a number of girls putting together a dossier of his abuse but refused to contribute – “I didn’t help because I was in denial then,” she says. “The school knew and yet they blithely let a number of girls go off to America with him.”
Ever since the Brewer scandal broke in 2013, the school has mishandled its response, she believes. Like some of the other victims, she resents that no one from the school as ever tried to contact her, or offered a forum for sharing her experiences. Ever since the Brewer scandal broke in 2013, the school has mishandled its response, she believes. Like some of the other victims, she resents that no one from the school has ever tried to contact her, or offered a forum for sharing her experiences.
“All they keep going on about is that all this was historical and it’s better now. That’s not the point at all. Their response should be about making those of us who were affected heard and helped.”“All they keep going on about is that all this was historical and it’s better now. That’s not the point at all. Their response should be about making those of us who were affected heard and helped.”