March 2021

Music teacher jailed for non-recent sexual abuse

A music teacher who sexually abused a teenage girl more than 10 years ago has been jailed after admitting his crimes.

Christopher Dunn was sentenced to 19 months imprisonment on Friday (26 March) at Leicester Crown Court.

The 45-year-old, of Pulford Drive, Thurnby, committed the offences between 2004 and 2007. His victim, who is now an adult, contacted police to report matters in 2019.

She told police she had attended a music school which Dunn taught at, where students were able to go on trips abroad. On one trip – when she was around 15 years old – Dunn touched her inappropriately.

When they returned to the UK, their contact continued and Dunn carried out further acts of sexual abuse. His victim said he often made comments of an inappropriate nature towards her and bought her cigarettes, alcohol and a new mobile phone.

In a Victim Personal Statement (VPS) provided to offices, she said Dunn hasn’t “just taken her childhood” – but had taken “most of the rest of her life as well”. She said what happened lives inside her head every day.

At Leicester Crown Court on 20 November last year, Dunn pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual activity with a child by a person in a position of trust and one count of sexual activity with a child.

February 2015

Music teacher who sexually abused three schoolgirls has jail term cut

A ‘predatory’ music teacher, who was jailed for eight years for sexually abusing three teenage girls has had his sentence cut.

Christopher Dunn (40) was convicted of four counts of indecent assault and two of sexual activity with a child at Leicester Crown court last year.

His victims were three girls, who were aged 15 and 16 at the time.

Dunn , of Pulford Drive, Thurnby, Leicester, met the girls while working at Soar Valley Music Centre, in Claremont Street, Belgrave, Leicester, which his parents ran.

Lord Justice Laws, Mr Justice Jay and Mr Justice Edis, sitting at London’s Criminal Appeal Court, yesterday quashed one of his indecent assault convictions.

And the judges went on to slash his jail term to six years.

The court heard that Dunn was a “sexual predator” who had “groomed and corrupted” his victims and used them for his own gratification.

He proved unrepentant after his arrest, treating the authorities with “arrogance” and claiming he was the victim of “a witch hunt.”

Lawyers for Dunn argued his sentence was far too tough, saying that his victims consented to sexual activity with him.

However, Lord Justice Laws said: “Their consent was scant mitigation.

“He groomed, indeed corrupted, these three young girls…the law is there to protect them from themselves.”

However he went on to quash one of his indecent assault convictions, which had been mistakenly charged.

During Dunn’s sentencing hearing last May, Judge Simon Hammond said: “There’s a golden rule that teachers don’t get involved in sexual relations with pupils.

“The defendant understood the risks to his career but it didn’t stop him.

“It’s clear he preferred young girls, whom he targeted, groomed and sexually abused.

“The courts have a duty to protect young, vulnerable girls from themselves and sexual predators like this defendant.”

May 2014

‘Sex predator’ teacher Christopher Dunn gets eight years for abusing three 15-year-old girls

A music teacher who sexually abused three 15-year-old pupils has been jailed for eight years.

Judge Simon Hammond said Christopher Dunn (39) was a “sexual predator” who had groomed two of his victims and used them for his own gratification.

Dunn met the girls while working at Soar Valley Music Centre, in Claremont Street, Belgrave, Leicester.

He was convicted by a jury of seven sex offences following a recent six-day trial at Leicester Crown Court.

Sentencing Dunn yesterday, Judge Hammond said: “There’s a golden rule that teachers don’t get involved in sexual relations with pupils.

“The defendant understood the risks to his career but it didn’t stop him.

“It’s clear he preferred young girls, whom he targeted, groomed and sexually abused.

“The courts have a duty to protect young, vulnerable girls from themselves and sexual predators like this defendant.

“Giving evidence he was arrogant and overbearing in the witness box, as well as in the police interviews.”

The judge said the pre-sentence report stated Dunn had described the police investigation into his conduct as a “witch hunt”.

Dunn, of Pulford Drive, Thurnby, will have to enlist on a sex offender register for life.

He was made the subject of a sexual offences prevention order, which includes not having unsupervised contact with girls under the age of 16.

Dunn denied the allegations during his trial, claiming he had done nothing illegal.

Defence barrister Andrew Lewis said at yesterday’s sentencing hearing: “He’s not reconciled himself to the verdicts of the jury, but on his behalf I concede there’s a background of a breach of trust.”

The trial jury heard on several occasions Dunn collected one of his 15-year-old music centre students from school and drove her into the countryside, or to his boat in Thurmaston Marina, for kissing and sexual touching.

Similar sexual touching occurred with another 15-year-old who, after her 16th birthday, lost her virginity in his car.

The third victim was inappropriately touched by Dunn.

The defendant was convicted of three counts of indecent assault against one 15-year-old, two counts of sexual activity with a child under 16 and one of sexual activity with her when she was 16, by a person in a position of trust, and sexually assaulting a third girl, by touching her inappropriately, between 2000 and 2008, when he was in his late 20s to mid 30s.

Dunn, who qualified as a music teacher in 1999, later became the music centre’s development manager, but was suspended from working there in July 2010 due to concerns about his conduct towards the victims.

He also taught music, played in the centre’s orchestra and, on occasions, conducted it.

Dunn was an organiser of the Glastonbudget tribute band music festival from 2007 to 2009.

Mr Lewis said: “All the offending falls short of full sexual intercourse with anyone under 16.

“It has been four years since the police investigation began and he’s behaved impeccably during that time.

“He’s rebuilt his life away from children and has gone into business.

“He knows his teaching career is over.”

May 2014

Leicester music teacher found guilty of sexually abusing pupils

An “arrogant” music teacher, found guilty of sexually abusing three pupils, was warned to expect a substantial jail sentence.

Christopher Dunn (39) was convicted of seven offences involving the 15-year-old victims.

Dunn met the girls, and seduced two of them, whilst working at Leicester’s Soar Valley Music Centre, Claremont Street, Belgrave, run by his parents.

A victim who watched the guilty verdicts announced at Leicester Crown Court, hugged her mother and they both wept.

Outside court they said: “All we want to say it that justice has been done and we’ve waited a long time for today.”

Dunn, of Pulford Drive, Thurnby, denied the allegations, claiming he had done nothing illegal.

Judge Simon Hammond told Dunn: “One of the golden rules of teachers and staff at educational establishments is they shouldn’t get sexually involved with pupils.

“Pupils are forbidden fruit.

“It’s important teaching staff say no.

“Parents took their children to the music centre to be taught and not to be sexually seduced by a member of staff.”

The judge added: “He took advantage of those girls and betrayed the trust of those parents.

“He’s shown he likes young girls and it’s clear he used these girls for sexual gratification.

“He was arrogant and overbearing when interviewed by the police and was deliberately difficult.

“The courts have a duty to protect impressionable young girls from themselves.

“This is very serious and I’ll be considering a substantial prison sentence.”

During the trial the jury of seven men and five women were told that on several occasions, Dunn collected one of his 15-year-old music centre students from school and drove her into the countryside, or to his boat on Thurmaston Marina, for intimate encounters involved kissing and sexual touching.

She once suggested changing into her day clothes, but Dunn told her: “I like the school uniform.”

Similar sexual touching occurred with another 15-year-old and after her 16th birthday she lost her virginity in his car.

The third victim had her nipple tweaked by Dunn, on one occasion.

He denied three counts of indecent assault against one 15-year-old, two counts of sexual activity with a child under 16 and one of sexual activity with her when she was 16, by a person in a position of trust, and sexually assaulting a third girl, by twisting her nipple, between 2000 and 2008, when he was in his late 20s to mid 30s.

Dunn, who qualified as a music teacher in 1999, later became the music centre’s development manager, but was suspended from working there in July 2010 due to concerns about his conduct towards the victims.

He also taught music, played in the centre’s orchestra and on occasions conducted it.

He is a former organiser of the county’s Glastonbudget tribute band music festival, from 2007 to 2009.

He told the jury there was no truth in the allegations against him and although he accepted sexual involvement with one victim, is was not until after she was 16 and when was not her music teacher.

After the guilty verdicts were announced, the case was adjourned for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Defence counsel, Andrew Lewis, told the judge: “He knows custody is inevitable and doesn’t seek a period on bail.”

Dunn was remanded into custody to await sentencing on May 30.

During the trial, Vanessa Marshall, prosecuting, said “Dunn was looked up to, especially by young female students taking instruction from him.

“It’s not alleged the defendant forced any of these girls to engage in sexual activity against their consent.

“He didn’t, but that’s no defence because the case is he was embarking upon inappropriate relationships with young girls when he should have known better, owing to that imbalance of power in a teacher-student relationship or position of trust.”

She said that in 2003 it became illegal for someone in a position of trust to engage in sexual activity with anyone under 18.