September 2006

Music teacher jailed for having sex with girl, 13

A 41-year-old guitar teacher who had a sexual relationship with a 13-year-old girl has been jailed for three years.

And Kevin Rowe has not only been banned from ever working with children again but cannot have unsupervised contact with anyone under sixteen apart from his own children.

The pervert used his position of trust to exploit a youngster, who became infatuated with him, having sex with her in the shed at the end of his garden.

Rowe’s wife, Miriam, 40, who knew about the affair escaped jail and being banned from working with children after she admitted facilitating the child abuse.

Adam Vaitilingam, prosecuting, told Swindon crown court on Tuesday this week how the child started having lessons with music teacher Rowe at his home in Westbury in early 2005. He said the abuse only came to light after the child’s mother had seen her daughter’s mobile phone.

As she looked at text messages from Rowe and his wife she thought many were inappropriate to be sent to a 13-year-old girl. Included in messages from Rowe were Do you still want me?’ and Have you and Miriam fallen out?’ and from Mrs Rowe one saying Not able to have sex. If you want to, carry on’.

When Rowe was questioned he denied any wrong doing but when the text message and his computer were examined officers found e-mails to him from Mrs Rowe.

It became clear that not only was Rowe having sex with the girl but that his wife knew about it and allowed it to happen. Rowe then confessed to what had been going on when the new evidence was put before him. Rowe, of The Butts, Westbury, pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual activity with a child between June 1 last year and January 31 this year.

His wife, formerly of The Butts but now living in Woodley, Reading, Berkshire admitted arranging or facilitating a child sex act during the same period.

Jonathan Simpson, defending Rowe, said his client was a music teacher and performer and would find it very difficult if not impossible to work as a result of the conviction.

He said he had devoted the past 20 years to teaching and during that time nothing similar had happened before describing it as a one off’.

Sarah Regan, for Mrs Rowe, said she had been trapped in an abusive relationship and realised now she should have done something about it.

She is now wracked with guilt and remorse and undergoing counselling for what happened.

Rowe will have to register as a sex offender indefinitely and his wife for one year.