PETER ANTONELLI GUILTY OF ABUSING GULLANE PUPILS IN EAST LOTHIAN

In December 2021, a shocking case unfolded involving Peter Antonelli, a retired music teacher from Gullane in East Lothian, who was sentenced to eight years in prison for heinous crimes against former pupils. Antonelli, aged 66, had dedicated nearly thirty years of his life to teaching children how to play the piano at two different schools within the East Lothian region.

Last month, the jury found Antonelli guilty of multiple serious charges, including rape, lewd and libidinous conduct, and indecent assault, all committed against six victims over a span of more than two decades. The court heard that the abuse took place between 1980 and 2005, a period during which Antonelli exploited his position of trust to groom and sexually abuse vulnerable young girls under his care.

Judge Jamie Gilchrist, presiding over the case at the High Court in Edinburgh, expressed profound concern over the lasting impact of Antonelli’s actions. He stated that two of the victims had suffered "lasting emotional damage" as a result of the abuse. Throughout the proceedings, Antonelli maintained his innocence, denying the charges and claiming that he had a consensual sexual relationship with one of his pupils when she was 17 years old.

Antonelli’s background was scrutinized during the trial, revealing that he was awarded an MBE for his services to musical education in the New Year’s Honours list at the end of 2004. Despite this recognition, the court was presented with evidence that he used his role as a piano teacher to groom and manipulate young girls, some of whom he sexually abused.

One of the victims, now aged 45, recounted her experience in court, describing how Antonelli would run his finger up her back during her secondary school years, which she perceived as an inappropriate and disgusting gesture, seemingly feeling for her bra strap. Another woman, now 52, testified that Antonelli had called her "PB"—short for "perfect bum"—and had taken indecent photographs of her. She revealed that Antonelli became "aroused" when taking these photos and that he made her perform sex acts on him. She also disclosed that he encouraged her to go on the pill when she was 16, fearing she might become pregnant.

The woman further described Antonelli’s controlling behavior, including frequent phone calls and following her, which left her feeling trapped and unsure of how to escape his influence. During the trial, Antonelli admitted to having a sexual relationship with a girl when she was 17 and he was 31, a fact he justified by claiming that such relationships were "quite common then," though he acknowledged they are not acceptable now.

Prosecutor Chris Fyffe emphasized that Antonelli had groomed impressionable children, hiding his predatory activities behind the facade of a dedicated piano teacher. The court was told that Antonelli exploited the vulnerabilities of his victims, many of whom faced difficult domestic circumstances, to manipulate and abuse them.

Prior to sentencing, the court deferred judgment to allow for background reports to be prepared. When sentencing was handed down, Judge Gilchrist condemned Antonelli’s actions as a gross breach of trust and a flagrant abuse of his position. He highlighted that Antonelli had exploited the emotional and psychological vulnerabilities of the children, offering false support while secretly grooming and isolating them for his own gratification.

As part of his punishment, Antonelli was also ordered to register as a sex offender for life, underscoring the severity of his crimes and the lasting impact on his victims.