ROBERT KING, ALPHETON MUSIC DIRECTOR, JAILED FOR CHILD SEX ABUSE IN LONDON
In a case that has sent shockwaves through the British musical community, Robert King, a renowned conductor from Alpheton, Suffolk, was sentenced to nearly four years in prison for the sexual abuse of young boys.The allegations, which spanned over a decade, revealed a disturbing pattern of misconduct that took place primarily in King’s residence in Ealing, West London.
According to court proceedings at Isleworth Crown Court, King, aged 46 at the time of sentencing, was convicted on 14 counts of indecent assault committed between 1982 and 1995.
The court heard that King targeted five young boys, one of whom was only 12 years old when the abuse began.
The victims were reportedly lured into his home under the pretense of socializing, often after being given alcohol, which facilitated his predatory behavior.
One of the victims recounted that he was “sexually used” over a period of years at King’s residence.
The court was shown distressing evidence of the abuse, including incidents where some boys were assaulted while they were sleeping, and others during bathtime.
One young boy, desperate to escape, fled from room to room seeking refuge, eventually hiding under a bed and vomiting from the trauma.
Another victim, who was just 12 when King first molested him, endured the abuse for three years before deciding he could no longer bear it.
All five victims, some of whom are now undergoing counseling, kept their suffering secret well into adulthood.
It was only later that one of the victims wrote a letter to King, who is also the founder of The King’s Consort orchestra and choir, accusing him of making his childhood “utterly miserable.” The court highlighted that King was a prominent figure in musical circles, with a career that included composing film scores for major productions such as Ridley Scott’s “Kingdom of Heaven,” “Shrek 2,” and “The Da Vinci Code.” He also presented programs for the BBC and toured internationally with various orchestras.
During the sentencing, Judge Hezlett Colgan emphasized the betrayal of trust involved in the case.
He stated, “Your victims were in their early or mid-teens at the time.
In the case of four of them, you were a trusted mentor and friend, and trusted completely by their families.” Prosecutor Sarah Whitehouse pointed out that three of the victims were under 16 and that some of the assaults occurred “under the guise of some sort of game, such as a mock wrestle.” She further explained that all five victims had kept their experiences secret for many years.
Although now adults, their recollections, while possibly hazy, contained consistent details that corroborated their accounts to police.
King, who was cleared of one count of indecent assault, vehemently denied the allegations, asserting that all accusations against him were “absolute” lies.
Despite his protests, the court imposed a sentence totaling three years and nine months, reflecting the severity of his crimes and the breach of trust involved in his abuse of vulnerable minors.
