Ex-music teacher held in rape probe

A fourth person has been arrested in an ongoing investigation into abuse at Chetham's School of Music in Manchester
8 August 2013

Former Chetham's School of Music teacher Malcolm Layfield has been arrested on suspicion of three historic rapes, according to Press Association sources.

The 61-year-old was detained on Wednesday over alleged offences of rape against three girls - two aged 16 and one aged 18 - between 1980 and 1991 while he taught at the Manchester school. The violin tutor went on to teach at the Royal Northern College of Music (RCNM), where he stood down as head of strings in February.

Layfield is the fourth man to be arrested in Greater Manchester Police's ongoing investigation into historic sexual abuse at the RCNM and Chetham's. He has been bailed until October 17 pending further inquiries.

Other former teachers who have been arrested so far are Wen Zhou Li, 57, Duncan McTier, 58, and an unnamed 65-year-old man. It is understood that two other men have previously been interviewed under caution as part of the investigation.

In May, GMP said more than 30 women had made complaints that they suffered sexual abuse from classical music teachers.

Ten key suspects have been identified in the wide-ranging inquiry called Operation Kiso. Those suspects either taught at Chetham's, the RNCM or privately. Some 39 individuals have been investigated so far in the operation, of whom five are dead.

The allegations come in the fall-out from the high-profile sex abuse trial earlier this year of Michael Brewer, the former music director at Chetham's. Brewer was jailed for six years in March after he was found guilty of indecently assaulting ex-pupil Frances Andrade, 48, more than 30 years ago when she was 14 and 15.

Mrs Andrade killed herself at her home in Guildford, Surrey, a week after giving evidence against him. The trial heard historic allegations that sexual activity between teachers and pupils at Chetham's was not uncommon.

In a statement on the latest arrest, GMP said: "A man has been arrested on suspicion of rape as part of an investigation into historic sex abuse at Chetham's School of Music and the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. The 61-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday August 7 on suspicion of three counts of rape.

"He has been bailed October 17 pending further inquiries. The offences relate to the rape of three teenagers, aged 16, 16 and 18, between 1980 and 1991 while the man was teaching at Chetham's."

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