NEIL GARLAND LINTHWAITE MUSIC TEACHER JAILED FOR DECADES-OLD INDECENT ASSAULTS IN HUDDERSFIELD

In a case that has resurfaced disturbing memories from the 1970s, Neil Garland, a former music instructor from Linthwaite, has been sentenced to prison for the sexual misconduct he committed against three young female pupils during private lessons at his residence in Huddersfield. Garland, now aged 71, was employed as a music teacher at Huddersfield High School at the time of the offenses, which took place when he hosted students at his home in Linthwaite, a village near Huddersfield.

During proceedings at Leeds Crown Court, prosecutor Catherine Duffy detailed the harrowing accounts of the victims, emphasizing the breach of trust and the lasting impact of Garland’s actions. The first complainant, who was approximately 13 or 14 years old at the time, recounted an incident during a clarinet lesson. She remembered Garland placing his hands on her abdomen, claiming it was to help her breathe properly. She described a particular occasion when they sat on a sofa, and Garland, while giving her a massage, moved his hand to her chest over her clothing. Garland then told her, “Don’t worry, it’s not that I want to have sex with you, I can do that with my wife. It’s just that I was thinking it would be nice for the two of us to be closer together.” The girl felt uncomfortable and moved away but did not feel able to report the incident at the time.

The second victim, also around 13 or 14, was undergoing an oboe lesson when Garland, while she was lying on the floor practicing breathing exercises, placed his hand on her breast over her clothing. She expressed that she was frightened and only disclosed the abuse during the police investigation that followed recent inquiries into Garland’s conduct.

The third complainant, aged between 13 and 15, recounted a disturbing experience during a flute lesson at Garland’s home. She described how Garland sat beside her on the sofa, placing one hand around her shoulder and the other on her breast. She felt scared and frightened, especially because she had to wait until her father arrived to pick her up after the lesson. In her victim impact statement, she revealed that the abuse had a profound effect on her, leading her to develop a hatred for music and a desire to stop playing altogether. She also noted that her confidence and relationships suffered, and she expressed regret for not speaking out sooner.

Garland’s defense, represented by Stephen Crossley, acknowledged the gravity of his misconduct. Crossley admitted that Garland’s behavior was unacceptable and a clear breach of trust with the children and their families. Garland himself, in a reflection shared with a probation officer, described his past actions as “arrogant, selfish, weak, greedy, stupid and lecherous,” and expressed remorse for the harm caused. He recognized the impact his actions had on his victims and emphasized that he had not committed any further offenses since the incidents.

Despite Garland’s age and the passage of many years since the offenses, Judge Geoffrey Marson QC emphasized the seriousness of the crimes. Garland, of Cowlersley Lane, Linthwaite, pleaded guilty to three counts of indecent assault, which historically carried a maximum sentence of two years. The judge sentenced him to six months in prison and ordered him to register as a sex offender for seven years. In his sentencing remarks, Judge Marson highlighted the significant breach of trust and the psychological harm inflicted on the victims, noting that their silence was understandable given their vulnerability at the time. He stressed that the consequences of such misconduct are enduring and that justice must be served, regardless of how long ago the offenses occurred.