Ex-School Music Director Jailed for 12 Years Over Decades of Child Sex Abuse
David Pickthall, 66, a former director of music at a private school, was locked up today for 12 years after admitting indecently assaulting 10 pupils over more than two decades.
Abuse Spanned From 1979 to 2003 at Prestigious Essex School
Pickthall abused children aged between nine and 14 while working at Brentwood School in Essex and as a choirmaster in Havering. His crimes affected 19 victims in total, stretching from 1979 right up to 2021.
Victims revealed how Pickthall cunningly won their families’ trust, posing as a mentor and friend while secretly abusing them. Many spoke of the profound, lasting trauma caused by his actions.
CPS Cracks Down on Predator: Victims Urged to Speak Out
Samantha Wright from the Crown Prosecution Service said: “David Pickthall sexually abused those who were at their most vulnerable. He exploited his relationship with the victims using his trusted position in the community.”
“To each and every one of Pickthall’s victims, I thank you for coming forward. I hope today sends a clear message that anyone who has been a victim of sexual abuse should not hesitate in making a report to the Police regardless of the position or status that the abuser holds in society.”
Grooming, Voyeurism & Deception: A Shocking Web of Abuse
- Pickthall’s twisted grooming included tickling victims during lessons until they fell, then sexually assaulting them.
- He gave victims alcohol, showed them pornographic films and magazines, and let them stay overnight in his guest room to manipulate them.
- The abuser secretly filmed eight young adult victims – former students still socially connected to him – naked or in underwear using hidden cameras, even capturing one using the toilet.
- He also coerced a teenage boy into sending indecent images online by pretending to be a teenage girl, then used the photos to create fake accounts and entice other young males into sexual chats.
- Pickthall pled guilty to 16 counts of indecent assault, 10 charges of voyeurism, and two counts of making indecent images of a child.
From MBE Honours to Prison Cell
Shockingly, Pickthall retired in 2014 and was awarded an MBE in 2015 for services to education and charity – honours now overshadowed by his horrific crimes.
The CPS has since launched a dedicated Organised Child Sexual Abuse Unit to tackle complex cases like this, aiming to strengthen investigations and boost prosecution rates.
