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| Ex-Chetham's teacher quits RNCM board amid claims of sexual misconduct | Ex-Chetham's teacher quits RNCM board amid claims of sexual misconduct |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| A senior teacher from the Royal Northern College of Music has stepped down from the board of the institution after he was accused of sexual misconduct in a court case involving a former colleague – and is expected to depart from his position as head of strings there. | A senior teacher from the Royal Northern College of Music has stepped down from the board of the institution after he was accused of sexual misconduct in a court case involving a former colleague – and is expected to depart from his position as head of strings there. |
| Malcolm Layfield has been off sick since last week when he learned he had been outed in court in evidence given by Frances Andrade, the professional violinist who killed herself last month after testifying against her abuser, Michael Brewer. | Malcolm Layfield has been off sick since last week when he learned he had been outed in court in evidence given by Frances Andrade, the professional violinist who killed herself last month after testifying against her abuser, Michael Brewer. |
| On Friday, Brewer was found guilty of indecently assaulting Andrade when she was 14 and 15, at Chetham's School of Music – the prestigious Manchester school where Layfield taught in the 1980s and 1990s at much of the same time Brewer was in charge of music at the school. | On Friday, Brewer was found guilty of indecently assaulting Andrade when she was 14 and 15, at Chetham's School of Music – the prestigious Manchester school where Layfield taught in the 1980s and 1990s at much of the same time Brewer was in charge of music at the school. |
| The Guardian understands Layfield has consulted employment lawyers and is in the process of negotiating his permanent departure from the college. | The Guardian understands Layfield has consulted employment lawyers and is in the process of negotiating his permanent departure from the college. |
| Last week the Guardian spoke to three women who said the sexual relationships Layfield initiated with them when they were aged between 16 and 18 had damaged their physical and mental wellbeing in later life. | Last week the Guardian spoke to three women who said the sexual relationships Layfield initiated with them when they were aged between 16 and 18 had damaged their physical and mental wellbeing in later life. |
| Professor Linda Merrick, the RNCM's current principal, released a statement saying: "I am also now able to report that following a discussion with the chairman of the board of governors of the RNCM over the weekend, Mr Layfield has stood down from his position on the board of governors." | Professor Linda Merrick, the RNCM's current principal, released a statement saying: "I am also now able to report that following a discussion with the chairman of the board of governors of the RNCM over the weekend, Mr Layfield has stood down from his position on the board of governors." |
| On Friday, the Guardian also published a dossier that showed how the RNCM ignored a large number of clear warnings that Layfield had sexual relationships with his teenage charges when they appointed him in 2002. The dossier included an email from Andrade, written to the college's then principal, Professor Edward Gregson. Urging Gregson not to appoint Layfield to head of strings, she wrote: "Are you aware 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?" | On Friday, the Guardian also published a dossier that showed how the RNCM ignored a large number of clear warnings that Layfield had sexual relationships with his teenage charges when they appointed him in 2002. The dossier included an email from Andrade, written to the college's then principal, Professor Edward Gregson. Urging Gregson not to appoint Layfield to head of strings, she wrote: "Are you aware 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?" |
| Gregson said in a statement on Monday that he and the RNCM board appointed Layfield in 2002 only "after much soul searching". He said: "If there had been serious reasons, based on recent evidence, that Mr Layfield's appointment would have posed any risk to them, I would have had no hesitation in rescinding his appointment. We certainly did not condone Mr Layfield's past behaviour – far from it – and made it clear that any serious allegations should be reported to the police. | Gregson said in a statement on Monday that he and the RNCM board appointed Layfield in 2002 only "after much soul searching". He said: "If there had been serious reasons, based on recent evidence, that Mr Layfield's appointment would have posed any risk to them, I would have had no hesitation in rescinding his appointment. We certainly did not condone Mr Layfield's past behaviour – far from it – and made it clear that any serious allegations should be reported to the police. |
| He added: "Since his appointment, Malcolm Layfield has led his school with distinction, working successfully with large numbers of students and staff, undertaking overseas visits for the college, and as dean of performance helping to develop the academic life of the college." | He added: "Since his appointment, Malcolm Layfield has led his school with distinction, working successfully with large numbers of students and staff, undertaking overseas visits for the college, and as dean of performance helping to develop the academic life of the college." |
| In a statement issued on Tuesday by his solicitors, Layfield said: "These matters were fully investigated by the RNCM and widely reported in 2002 and at no stage were allegations of criminal behaviour made and the college shared this information with the police at the time. I made it clear then as I do now that I deeply regret my behaviour. I felt it appropriate to resign as a governor of the college to avoid the interest in my personal life affecting the college." | In a statement issued on Tuesday by his solicitors, Layfield said: "These matters were fully investigated by the RNCM and widely reported in 2002 and at no stage were allegations of criminal behaviour made and the college shared this information with the police at the time. I made it clear then as I do now that I deeply regret my behaviour. I felt it appropriate to resign as a governor of the college to avoid the interest in my personal life affecting the college." |
| The development in the aftermath of the Brewer case comes as the Labour party called for a review of how Andrade's case was handled. Yvette Cooper, the shadow home secretary, called in parliament for a full review into how Andrade's case was dealt with by the police and criminal justice system. Andrade's family have claimed police urged her not to seek counselling in the runup to the trial. One of her sons, Oliver, said: "The court system let her down." | The development in the aftermath of the Brewer case comes as the Labour party called for a review of how Andrade's case was handled. Yvette Cooper, the shadow home secretary, called in parliament for a full review into how Andrade's case was dealt with by the police and criminal justice system. Andrade's family have claimed police urged her not to seek counselling in the runup to the trial. One of her sons, Oliver, said: "The court system let her down." |
| Responding, Theresa May, the home secretary, said: "Sadly, when we see incidents such as has happened in this case, I fear that others may be put off from coming forward rather than encouraged to come forward. I do think we need to look very carefully at what has happened in this case and indeed very carefully at how we can improve the system further so that victims feel they will be believed when they come forward." | Responding, Theresa May, the home secretary, said: "Sadly, when we see incidents such as has happened in this case, I fear that others may be put off from coming forward rather than encouraged to come forward. I do think we need to look very carefully at what has happened in this case and indeed very carefully at how we can improve the system further so that victims feel they will be believed when they come forward." |
| Separately, Greater Manchester police also confirmed it had reopened an investigation into allegations of historic sexual abuse at Chetham's. Officers from the force's public protection unit have begun making contact with 10 women who told the Guardian about the serious sexual abuse they say suffered at the hands of Chris Ling, a freelance violin teacher at the school in the 1980s. Some were as young as 12 when they say he indecently assaulted them. | Separately, Greater Manchester police also confirmed it had reopened an investigation into allegations of historic sexual abuse at Chetham's. Officers from the force's public protection unit have begun making contact with 10 women who told the Guardian about the serious sexual abuse they say suffered at the hands of Chris Ling, a freelance violin teacher at the school in the 1980s. Some were as young as 12 when they say he indecently assaulted them. |
| A number of others came forward to the Guardian and police on Monday making fresh allegations about Ling and other teachers at the school. Chief inspector Sharon Scotson said her officers were still trying to locate old files relating to an investigation into Ling which GMP began in 1990. Three women have told the Guardian they were interviewed by child protection officers more than 20 years ago after the mother of one of Ling's alleged victims raised the alarm. Two say they underwent internal medical examinations as teenagers as a result. | A number of others came forward to the Guardian and police on Monday making fresh allegations about Ling and other teachers at the school. Chief inspector Sharon Scotson said her officers were still trying to locate old files relating to an investigation into Ling which GMP began in 1990. Three women have told the Guardian they were interviewed by child protection officers more than 20 years ago after the mother of one of Ling's alleged victims raised the alarm. Two say they underwent internal medical examinations as teenagers as a result. |
| • This article was amended on Tuesday 12 February 2013. The headline was changed to clarify that Malcolm Layfield is a former teacher at Chetham's School and quit the board of the RNCM. The article was also updated to include statements by Edward Gregson and Malcolm Layfield. | • This article was amended on Tuesday 12 February 2013. The headline was changed to clarify that Malcolm Layfield is a former teacher at Chetham's School and quit the board of the RNCM. The article was also updated to include statements by Edward Gregson and Malcolm Layfield. |
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