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Teacher cleared of historic rape charge (10 June 2015)

Date: 10/06/2015
Duncan Lewis, Legal News Solicitors, Teacher cleared of historic rape charge

A part-time violin teacher who admitted to having a number of consensual but inappropriate sexual relationships with pupils has been cleared of one charge relating to allegations he raped a girl in a car in the 1980s.

Malcolm Layfield, 63, taught at Chetham's School of Music and the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) in the 1980s.

He admitted to having inappropriate but consensual sexual relationships while he was married, which Manchester Crown Court was told were “common knowledge” in classical music circles in Manchester at the time.

However, Layfield denied that he had used his power and influence to rape an 18-year-old girl he had driven to an isolated spot in the middle of the night, after she had become intoxicated after drinking strong alcoholic punch he had made.

The incident allegedly took place during a summer school in Cornwall in the 1980s, which Layfield had organised.

He said she had got into his car willingly – and denied he was determined to have sex with her “come what may”, saying she “gave in” and then went on to have consensual sex with him for the following six weeks before the affair “fizzled out”.

The girl had alleged in court that she was under Layfield’s “influence and power” because he had threatened to take away work opportunities if she changed tutors.

Layfield told the court he did not encourage students to get drunk and had not been in a position to influence careers. He also said that he regretted the consensual relationships he had had with young girls, one of whom was aged 17.

The divorced father of two is not currently working, the court heard.

He was acquitted of one count of rape by the jury at Manchester Crown Court.

It is reported his son and daughter burst into tears as the verdict was read out, but he showed no emotion.

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