ROBIN ZEBAIDA GUILTY OF SEXUAL ASSAULT IN LONDON'S ST JOHN'S WOOD

In a case that has shocked the local community and garnered international attention, Robin Zebaida, a 49-year-old concert pianist renowned for his performances and teaching, has been found guilty of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl in his flat located in St John’s Wood, London. The incident occurred after a social outing involving the girl, her mother, and Zebaida, following a dinner at a restaurant earlier that day.

According to court proceedings, the teenager, who was under the influence of alcohol, was sitting on a sofa in Zebaida’s flat when the assault took place. The court heard that Zebaida, who was well-educated and had a distinguished career, had previously pursued a romantic relationship with the girl’s mother, a love story that began on a Mediterranean cruise. The mother, a widow, had sent Zebaida chocolates and arranged several meetings in London, expressing her desire for their relationship to develop further.

On the evening of November 24 last year, after their meal, the trio returned to Zebaida’s residence in St John’s Wood. The court was told that Zebaida had his arms around both the mother and daughter as they sat together. Without the mother’s awareness, Zebaida began to touch the girl under her top, an act that was described as deliberate and inappropriate. Prosecutor Mark Gadsden detailed that Zebaida’s hand moved from the girl’s hip, under her clothing, and up towards her chest, where her bra was, although he did not make direct contact with her breasts.

The court also heard that Zebaida engaged in French kissing the girl’s mother, which the girl described as “smooching.” The teenager, feeling the effects of the alcohol she and her mother had consumed—miniature bottles of spirits—later lay on the floor, feeling intoxicated and overwhelmed. She expressed her discomfort, but Zebaida coaxed her back onto the sofa, where he continued to touch her thigh and bottom in a slow, deliberate manner. He also kissed her on the neck, and she felt unable to resist or stop the unwanted advances.

Throughout the ordeal, the girl’s mother was unaware of the sexual nature of the touching, possibly due to the influence of alcohol, the romantic atmosphere, and the dim lighting. The court was told that Zebaida’s behavior was disinhibited, and he may have been influenced by the alcohol and the romantic setting. Despite the assault, the mother testified that her daughter was reluctant to stay longer and expressed a desire to leave early, feeling uncomfortable with Zebaida’s actions. The girl later confided in a counselor three months after the incident, which led to police involvement and Zebaida’s subsequent arrest and charges.

During the trial, Zebaida maintained his innocence, claiming that the accusations had caused him to decline performance opportunities worth between £15,000 and £20,000. He expressed shock and disbelief at the allegations, asserting that he had only lightly touched the girl due to her back problems caused by a previous car crash that had also claimed the lives of her brother and father. Zebaida explained that he had suggested she sit straighter at the piano and had only touched her shoulder in a professional context.

Following the jury’s verdict, Zebaida was sentenced to a conditional discharge for two years and was ordered to register as a sex offender. Additionally, he was required to pay a £15 victim surcharge. His career, which included teaching masterclasses worldwide with the British Council and serving as an approved examiner for the Royal College of Music, has now been overshadowed by this conviction. The case has raised questions about boundaries and conduct among professionals in the arts, especially those with a reputation for excellence and international recognition.