JOHN BRIGGS FROM EAST MORTON SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF YOUNG BOYS IN KEIGHLEY AND BRADFORD

In a case that has shocked the local community and beyond, renowned concert pianist John Briggs, a resident of East Morton, was sentenced to eight years in prison after being found guilty of multiple counts of indecent assault involving young boys. The court proceedings revealed a disturbing pattern of predatory behavior spanning nearly a quarter of a century, during which Briggs exploited his position of influence to abuse five vulnerable male victims.

At Bradford Crown Court, Briggs, aged 65, sat silently in the dock as Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC delivered a stern judgment. The judge described Briggs as a man who had used his reputation and authority to manipulate and exploit the trust placed in him by his victims. The court heard that Briggs, who was celebrated for his musical talent and awarded an MBE for his work with the Sea Cadets, had concealed a dark secret behind his public persona.

Judge Durham Hall emphasized the gravity of Briggs’s misconduct, stating, “This is the most glaring example of a gross breach of trust that one could possibly imagine.” The judge detailed how Briggs, who was highly regarded and admired, had preyed on young, impressionable boys and young men, many of whom looked up to him as a figure of respect and admiration. The abuse, which took place between 1969 and 1993, involved grooming and sexual assault on two piano students and three members of the Keighley Sea Cadets.

Throughout the trial, it was revealed that Briggs’s actions were relentless and calculated. The court heard that he had used his influence to manipulate his victims, some as young as 10 years old, on numerous occasions. The judge pointed out that Briggs’s grooming tactics were aimed at paving the way for more serious offenses, which he carried out over many years. The fact that one of the victims later sought out Briggs for a sexual encounter underscored the corrupting and destructive impact of his abuse.

One of the most disturbing allegations involved Briggs paying a 15-year-old Sea Cadet to perform a sex act on camera, a clear example of his predatory behavior. The court also heard how Briggs’s abuse had a lasting impact on his victims, destroying their love for music and their confidence. One young man, a talented pianist, was subjected to systematic abuse during lessons when he was around 10 to 12 years old, which the judge described as “relentless.”

Another victim, a promising musician, was driven to run away after Briggs exposed himself to him in a pink dressing gown during a masterclass. The judge noted that Briggs’s actions caused irreparable damage, breaking the victim’s love for piano and his self-esteem. The court also highlighted how Briggs targeted young men within the Sea Cadet organization, exploiting their admiration for him as their leader and role model.

Briggs, who resides on Little Lane in East Morton, denied all allegations, claiming his victims had colluded to fabricate the case against him. His defense argued that he was suffering from high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes, and that he was a man of good character. However, the judge dismissed these pleas, stating that Briggs’s conduct was “persistently and remorselessly” abusive. The court made it clear that such behavior would not be tolerated and that the sentence, though substantial, was necessary to reflect the seriousness of the crimes.

In closing, Judge Durham Hall expressed his regret that the sentence could not be longer, underscoring the importance of sending a strong message to society that sexual abuse, especially by those in positions of trust, will be met with severe consequences. The victims and their families, who had been unaware of Briggs’s true nature, now face the difficult reality of his conviction, which aims to serve justice and protect others from similar harm.