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| Claims of sexual misconduct against second former Chetham teacher | Claims of sexual misconduct against second former Chetham teacher |
| (30 days later) | |
| During the trial of Michael and Kay Brewer, who were found guilty of indecent assault on Friday, allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour emerged against another teacher at Chetham's school of music in the 1980s. | During the trial of Michael and Kay Brewer, who were found guilty of indecent assault on Friday, allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour emerged against another teacher at Chetham's school of music in the 1980s. |
| Two witnesses made references to a "Malcolm". Frances Andrade, the complainant in the case, told the jury that she had gone to police in 2002, reporting the "Malcolm" in question. | Two witnesses made references to a "Malcolm". Frances Andrade, the complainant in the case, told the jury that she had gone to police in 2002, reporting the "Malcolm" in question. |
| The man concerned is Malcolm Layfield, who in the 1980s and 90s was a peripatetic violin teacher at Chetham's and the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM). He stopped teaching at Chetham's in 1997 and since 2002 has been head of strings at the RNCM. | The man concerned is Malcolm Layfield, who in the 1980s and 90s was a peripatetic violin teacher at Chetham's and the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM). He stopped teaching at Chetham's in 1997 and since 2002 has been head of strings at the RNCM. |
| The Guardian has learned that on 17 May 2002, Andrade wrote an angry email to Edward Gregson, then principal of the RNCM, urging him not to appoint Layfield to his new position. "Are you aware," she asked Gregson, "that when we were 16, Malcolm Layfield took various students to the pub where large quantities of alcohol were bought for the girls which made them less able to resist what then followed?" | The Guardian has learned that on 17 May 2002, Andrade wrote an angry email to Edward Gregson, then principal of the RNCM, urging him not to appoint Layfield to his new position. "Are you aware," she asked Gregson, "that when we were 16, Malcolm Layfield took various students to the pub where large quantities of alcohol were bought for the girls which made them less able to resist what then followed?" |
| When Layfield's appointment was mooted in December 2001, there was an outcry among the teaching staff at the college. Two tutors subsequently resigned, citing Layfield as a factor in their decision to leave, including the head of keyboards, Martin Roscoe. He wrote to Gregson at the time claiming that 24 RNCM teachers were also unhappy about the appointment. | When Layfield's appointment was mooted in December 2001, there was an outcry among the teaching staff at the college. Two tutors subsequently resigned, citing Layfield as a factor in their decision to leave, including the head of keyboards, Martin Roscoe. He wrote to Gregson at the time claiming that 24 RNCM teachers were also unhappy about the appointment. |
| After hearing Layfield had made the shortlist in December 2001, Roscoe wrote a strongly worded letter to Gregson in which he drew Gregson's attention to "serious allegations" of "inappropriate behaviour of Malcolm Layfield towards some of his female students that had been relayed to me". He detailed two instances he had heard about, involving Layfield having sex with two pupils in his care. | After hearing Layfield had made the shortlist in December 2001, Roscoe wrote a strongly worded letter to Gregson in which he drew Gregson's attention to "serious allegations" of "inappropriate behaviour of Malcolm Layfield towards some of his female students that had been relayed to me". He detailed two instances he had heard about, involving Layfield having sex with two pupils in his care. |
| In response, he received a letter from the RNCM's director of resources, warning him "not to communicate with any third party, either inside or outside the college, about any of the details that have been considered as this might bring the name of the college into disrepute". | In response, he received a letter from the RNCM's director of resources, warning him "not to communicate with any third party, either inside or outside the college, about any of the details that have been considered as this might bring the name of the college into disrepute". |
| A graduate of the RNCM also wrote to Gregson, asking: "I wonder if you are aware of Mr Layfield's penchant for serial sexual relationships with his charges? This predatory behaviour has been injurious to the mental and physical development of those affected." | A graduate of the RNCM also wrote to Gregson, asking: "I wonder if you are aware of Mr Layfield's penchant for serial sexual relationships with his charges? This predatory behaviour has been injurious to the mental and physical development of those affected." |
| The graduate received a reply from Gregson saying: "The college has investigated these matters thoroughly, all of which, I should point out, relate to a period of time of between eight and some 18 years ago. | The graduate received a reply from Gregson saying: "The college has investigated these matters thoroughly, all of which, I should point out, relate to a period of time of between eight and some 18 years ago. |
| "After careful consideration of the matter, and consultation with certain senior colleagues, I have confirmed Malcolm Layfield's appointment and he has commenced in post with effect from 1 January 2002." | "After careful consideration of the matter, and consultation with certain senior colleagues, I have confirmed Malcolm Layfield's appointment and he has commenced in post with effect from 1 January 2002." |
| The Guardian has spoken to three women who have made allegations that Layfield initiated inappropriate sexual relations with them when they were aged 16 to 18 and under his care. | The Guardian has spoken to three women who have made allegations that Layfield initiated inappropriate sexual relations with them when they were aged 16 to 18 and under his care. |
| One, Woman A, phoned Gregson in 2002 to urge him to reconsider Layfield's appointment. She accuses Layfield of taking advantage of her in 1982 when she was 18, the summer after she left Chetham's. She claims Layfield invited her and some other pupils to a cottage in Cornwall with his wife and two children. | One, Woman A, phoned Gregson in 2002 to urge him to reconsider Layfield's appointment. She accuses Layfield of taking advantage of her in 1982 when she was 18, the summer after she left Chetham's. She claims Layfield invited her and some other pupils to a cottage in Cornwall with his wife and two children. |
| The woman alleges he got her drunk on punch and whisky, and she retired to a bedroom. She remembers him following her and getting her out of her sleeping bag before driving her "to the middle of nowhere", where they had sex in the back of the car. | The woman alleges he got her drunk on punch and whisky, and she retired to a bedroom. She remembers him following her and getting her out of her sleeping bag before driving her "to the middle of nowhere", where they had sex in the back of the car. |
| The next morning, she claims, he drove them back to the cottage, where his wife was making breakfast for their children. Looking back on it 20 years later, Woman A feels strongly Layfield abused his position of power and exploited her sexually, even though she concedes that she consented to sleep with him on a number of occasions after that first incident in Cornwall. | The next morning, she claims, he drove them back to the cottage, where his wife was making breakfast for their children. Looking back on it 20 years later, Woman A feels strongly Layfield abused his position of power and exploited her sexually, even though she concedes that she consented to sleep with him on a number of occasions after that first incident in Cornwall. |
| Gregson followed up Woman A's phone call by writing to her on 8 January 2002, saying he had discussed the matters she raised with Layfield and decided not to rescind his appointment. | Gregson followed up Woman A's phone call by writing to her on 8 January 2002, saying he had discussed the matters she raised with Layfield and decided not to rescind his appointment. |
| "All the occurrences to which our attention has been drawn happened at least eight years ago, and in many cases much longer," Gregson wrote. | "All the occurrences to which our attention has been drawn happened at least eight years ago, and in many cases much longer," Gregson wrote. |
| "In our discussions with Mr Layfield he has admitted, and has expressed his regret for, all the occurrences to which our attention had been drawn, and indeed some others of which we were not previously aware, which also date back eight years or more." | "In our discussions with Mr Layfield he has admitted, and has expressed his regret for, all the occurrences to which our attention had been drawn, and indeed some others of which we were not previously aware, which also date back eight years or more." |
| The woman said she was "completely shocked by the tone of his letter". | The woman said she was "completely shocked by the tone of his letter". |
| After publicity about Roscoe's resignation, the college was eventually forced to put out a press statement which stressed that while Layfield had admitted to some relationships with former students, "all of these were at least nine years ago. None of the students involved was underage and there was no suggestion that any of the relationships was not consensual." | After publicity about Roscoe's resignation, the college was eventually forced to put out a press statement which stressed that while Layfield had admitted to some relationships with former students, "all of these were at least nine years ago. None of the students involved was underage and there was no suggestion that any of the relationships was not consensual." |
| Violinist Sophie Barber, 49, who was taught by Layfield at both Chetham's and the RNCM, said she had been emboldened to finally give evidence against her former violin teacher after hearing about the death of Andrade. Andrade killed herself two weeks ago after giving evidence. | Violinist Sophie Barber, 49, who was taught by Layfield at both Chetham's and the RNCM, said she had been emboldened to finally give evidence against her former violin teacher after hearing about the death of Andrade. Andrade killed herself two weeks ago after giving evidence. |
| "When I heard about Fran I felt this is the very least I could do," Barber said. "We have all been cowed for so many years." | "When I heard about Fran I felt this is the very least I could do," Barber said. "We have all been cowed for so many years." |
| Barber gave evidence at the Brewer trial, along with another woman who alleges she was abused by a Chetham's teacher. She told the jury that "abuse was rife" at the school in the 1980s when she attended. | Barber gave evidence at the Brewer trial, along with another woman who alleges she was abused by a Chetham's teacher. She told the jury that "abuse was rife" at the school in the 1980s when she attended. |
| She told the Guardian she feels Layfield took advantage of her when she was "very naive and immature". She claimed that after she turned 18 in January 1982, he had sex with her for the first time after plying her with alcohol following a concert in Manchester with the Goldberg Ensemble. | She told the Guardian she feels Layfield took advantage of her when she was "very naive and immature". She claimed that after she turned 18 in January 1982, he had sex with her for the first time after plying her with alcohol following a concert in Manchester with the Goldberg Ensemble. |
| She alleges he got her drunk in the dining room of his house in south Manchester and, after his wife had gone to bed, started touching her breasts under her clothes in the dining room. | She alleges he got her drunk in the dining room of his house in south Manchester and, after his wife had gone to bed, started touching her breasts under her clothes in the dining room. |
| She says she was very drunk and remembers the next morning waking up and seeing his whisky glass by the side of the bed. She concedes that she did later consent to sleep with Layfield on a number of occasions. | She says she was very drunk and remembers the next morning waking up and seeing his whisky glass by the side of the bed. She concedes that she did later consent to sleep with Layfield on a number of occasions. |
| Another former pupil, Woman B, claims Layfield had sex with her in the back of his car during a school trip to Aldeburgh when she was 16. She accepts she consented, but feels strongly that he abused his position of responsibility. | Another former pupil, Woman B, claims Layfield had sex with her in the back of his car during a school trip to Aldeburgh when she was 16. She accepts she consented, but feels strongly that he abused his position of responsibility. |
| On Friday Layfield's solicitor, Matthew Claughton, said in an email: "These matters were fully investigated in 2002 when Mr Layfield was appointed as head of the school of strings at the RNCM. | On Friday Layfield's solicitor, Matthew Claughton, said in an email: "These matters were fully investigated in 2002 when Mr Layfield was appointed as head of the school of strings at the RNCM. |
| "Mr Layfield made it clear at the time that he very much regretted his behaviour, and continues to do so. It has to be stressed that at no stage were allegations of criminal behaviour made. | "Mr Layfield made it clear at the time that he very much regretted his behaviour, and continues to do so. It has to be stressed that at no stage were allegations of criminal behaviour made. |
| "These matters date back some 30 years and have been in the public domain for over 10 years." | "These matters date back some 30 years and have been in the public domain for over 10 years." |
| In 2002 Woman B wrote a letter to the then head of Chetham's, asking for assurances that Layfield would not be allowed to teach at the school. | In 2002 Woman B wrote a letter to the then head of Chetham's, asking for assurances that Layfield would not be allowed to teach at the school. |
| She wrote: "I was 14 when I met him and 16 when I became involved sexually with him, the main adult in my life at that time. I was already a vulnerable teenager. | She wrote: "I was 14 when I met him and 16 when I became involved sexually with him, the main adult in my life at that time. I was already a vulnerable teenager. |
| "It has taken years to undo some of the emotional confusion of my teenage years, never mind the sense of acute private shame that I carried for so long … I have had professional help over a period of years to try and come to terms with my school life. It was sometimes hard to even think we were schoolchildren at all." | "It has taken years to undo some of the emotional confusion of my teenage years, never mind the sense of acute private shame that I carried for so long … I have had professional help over a period of years to try and come to terms with my school life. It was sometimes hard to even think we were schoolchildren at all." |
| A spokeswoman for the RNCM said: "The RNCM recognises that the welfare of its students is paramount and it has in place appropriate policies and procedures to support them. It expects full compliance with all policies and procedures from staff and students. | A spokeswoman for the RNCM said: "The RNCM recognises that the welfare of its students is paramount and it has in place appropriate policies and procedures to support them. It expects full compliance with all policies and procedures from staff and students. |
| "Malcolm Layfield was appointed to his current position in 2002. Around the time of his appointment the RNCM became aware of alleged relationships in the late 1980s and early 1990s with individuals who were over the age of consent. The RNCM considered the situation and took appropriate steps." | "Malcolm Layfield was appointed to his current position in 2002. Around the time of his appointment the RNCM became aware of alleged relationships in the late 1980s and early 1990s with individuals who were over the age of consent. The RNCM considered the situation and took appropriate steps." |
| • This article was corrected on 9 February 2013. The sixth paragraph referred to Layfield making the shortlist in December 2011. It was in December 2001. This has been corrected. | • This article was corrected on 9 February 2013. The sixth paragraph referred to Layfield making the shortlist in December 2011. It was in December 2001. This has been corrected. |
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