ANDREW PRESTON SHAMES CHETHAM'S SCHOOL OF MUSIC WITH SEXUALLY EXPLICIT ONLINE MESSAGES

In a disturbing development that has rocked Chetham's School of Music in Manchester, teacher Andrew Preston, aged 50, has been officially barred from the classroom following revelations of his involvement in sexually explicit online communications. The incident has cast a long shadow over the institution, which has previously been marred by historic allegations of sexual abuse involving staff members.

According to the findings of the National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL), Dr. Preston engaged in graphic and inappropriate conversations over the internet, during which he expressed disturbing fantasies involving young girls. These messages, which surfaced during an investigation, revealed that Preston discussed underage sexual activity in explicit detail. The conversations reportedly took place in October and November of 2013, during which he was asked by an anonymous user known as 'Pure.filth93' whether he had discussed such topics with others. The exchange lasted approximately 45 minutes and was characterized by graphic language and disturbing content.

The revelations came to light after Dr. Preston was arrested in May 2014 on suspicion of attempting to possess an indecent image of a child. Although the police ultimately did not pursue charges against him, the information was forwarded to Chetham's School of Music for further review. The case raised serious concerns about the safety and integrity of the school environment.

During a conduct hearing convened by the NCTL, Dr. Preston defended his actions, claiming that his remarks were 'nothing more than a benign fantasy' and 'mere banter.' He insisted that he would never act on the disturbing thoughts he expressed online. Despite his assertions, the NCTL decided to impose an indefinite ban on Preston from teaching, citing the severity of his conduct. The authority emphasized that, although there was no evidence suggesting that pupils had been directly harmed or affected, the nature of Preston's comments posed a significant risk to the reputation and safety of the educational environment.

In a formal statement, the NCTL highlighted the gravity of the situation, noting that few issues could be more damaging for a teacher than to openly express sexual interest in children of school age. Preston chose not to comment publicly on the matter.

Chetham's School of Music has a troubling history, with former staff members involved in serious misconduct. Notably, Michael Brewer, the school's former music director, along with his ex-wife Hilary, was convicted in March 2013 for indecently assaulting a former pupil over three decades ago. Other former teachers, including Nicholas Smith and Duncan McTier, have also admitted to sexual assaults against former students. Additionally, violin teacher Chris Ling, who was facing charges related to his time at the school, tragically took his own life in the United States last year, adding to the dark legacy surrounding the institution.