A MUSIC teacher from Chipping Norton has been jailed for 11 years for sex attacks on two schoolgirls and a young woman in sound-proof practice rooms.

Philip Pickett, 64, of Lyneham, carried out the “exceptionally serious” offences while teaching at the prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.

The professional recorder player and conductor was convicted at the Old Bailey of two rapes and two indecent assaults, between 1979 and 1983.

Judge Charles Wide sentenced Pickett earlier this month but only lifted reporting restrictions yesterday after deciding that two further charges, relating to allegations made by women dating back to the 1970s, should lie on the file.

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The court heard Pickett would take vulnerable pupils into practice rooms where no-one could hear their screams as he shut the door, turned out the lights and assaulted them.

An investigation against the musician was sparked after his victims came forward in light of the Jimmy Savile sex scandal. The first girl, who was 16 at the time of the attack, went to the Guildhall School in 1978.

During one lesson he asked her to take her top off and ordered her to lie on the floor where he indecently assaulted her.

She was raped by Pickett during a lesson the following week.

Pickett was arrested for the 1978 offences in August 2013, which prompted two more victims to come forward who were aged 17 and 21 at the time.

The 17-year-old told her parents of the attack and they wrote to her school but, after a lengthy delay, they were told there had been no other complaints and their daughter should study elsewhere.

Jailing Pickett for a total of 11 years, Judge Wide said: “Philip Pickett, you have been convicted by the jury of a number of exceptionally serious sexual offences against a young woman and two schoolgirls.”

He said the rape of a 21-year-old woman, the rape and indecent assault of the 16-year-old and the indecent assault on a 17-year-old were offences that all aggravated each other.

The judge continued: “You were this woman’s and these schoolgirls’ teacher. To a degree they were in awe of you, especially the schoolgirls and, as far as they were concerned, this was specific targeting of a vulnerable victim, a girl you were teaching and you had power over who would be reluctant to complain and most unlikely to complain.

“There is the location of the offence in practice rooms at the Guildhall School of Music – sound-proofed, dark, you turned the lights out.

“Even if they shouted, they could not be heard, as you knew well, having got them on their own and shut the door.”

He handed down concurrent sentences of seven years, two years, 11 years, and 18 months for each offence.

Detective Superintendent Maria Woodall said: “Philip Pickett used his position of authority to abuse young talented women who were vulnerable due to their age and the fact they were students of his.

“These are appalling crimes and I would like to pay tribute to the victims’ tenacity and bravery during the investigation.”

Pickett performed at Chipping Norton Theatre with Galician musician Carlos Nunez in Chipping Norton Theatre in January 2013 and has recorded with members of Fairport Convention.