Music Teacher Guilty Of Decades-Old Sex Abuse

The former Head of Music at a leading Surrey school has been convicted of sexually abusing a young boy while in his teenage years nearly thirty years ago.

Chris Pearson, 42, who attended the Royal College of Music lost his career when separately arrested on suspicion of “grooming” girls at Cobham Free School.

He got a job as a train guard with South Western Railway, but is now behind bars and facing a prison sentence for abusing the nine year-old boy in the 1990’s.

Married father-of-two Pearson, of Beaconsfield Road, Chatham, Kent was yesterday unanimously convicted of three counts of rape and one count of indecency with a child.

The Croydon Crown Court jury unanimously found him not guilty of another count of indecency with a child.  

He did not reveal his impressive academic background in music to the jury, which includes working with the Bromley Youth Music Trust.

Pearson graduated from Birmingham Conservatoire with a degree in music in 2002 and taught the subject at Longfield Academy, Kent and was Curriculum Leader for Performing Arts at Bacon’s College, Rotherhithe.

He fought the charges, which occurred between June, 1995 and July, 1997 at his parents’ home in Beaumont Road, Petts Wood, Orpington.

Prosecutor Richard Job told the jury Pearson was approximately sixteen or seventeen years-old and the victim regularly visited his family home between the ages of nine and eleven years-old.

The complainant was not a relative, but would spend time in Pearson’s teenage bedroom at the defendant’s invitation, initially for fun wrestling.

“The defendant would invite him up to his room to play with him, wrestling as WWF was very popular at the time.

“The defendant would try out his latest wrestling moves on the younger, weaker child,” added Mr Job.

The victim told the jury he was smaller than Pearson and would be “forced to submit” during the wrestling sessions and would “scream in agony.”

Pearson also enjoyed demanding the younger boy “beg for mercy” the court heard.

“There may have been bullying physically, but he was also sexually abused, forced down onto the bed and raped for the defendant’s sexual pleasure.

“The defendant would also ask the younger boy to play with him intimately on a number of occasions.

“The defendant took advantage of his youth and naivety, not appreciating the enormity of what was happening.

“In his teens the complainant recognised he had been abused and felt shame and disgust.”

The jury were told the complainant first revealed what happened to his half-brother in 2017 and the police were then informed.

Officers later interviewed Pearson. “He made a complete denial,” said the prosecutor.

Pearson, who was supported by this sister throughout the trial, told the jury he had never been in trouble and was a man of good character.

He claimed his parents would have easily heard any screams coming from his bedroom. “They preferred that the doors were always open  and they usually were.”

There was also a home intercom system, he told the trial, easily allowing his mother to hear what was going on in his bedroom.

Pearson denied wrestling with the boy and inflicting pain, insisting his parents had a strict rule that visiting children were banned from going upstairs.

“He has never seen me naked and it didn’t happen with me,” he told the jury.

Judge Deborah Charles questioned why there were no references from teacher colleagues on behalf of Pearson, considering his professional academic background.

“Surrey Police investigated an allegation of grooming of schoolgirls via email. They were misguided and overly friendly and not sexual,” said Lucy Organ, defending.

“Mr Pearson as arrested and questioned and there was no further action.”

The judge told the jury: “These offences were not under the current Sexual Offences Act. They are under an old Act and Mr Pearson would have been a teenager himself at the time and that has to be weighed up.

“Mr Pearson should be remanded in custody now. This is inevitably going to be a custodial sentence and the only question is the length.

“I have been told very little about the other investigation and I intend to put it out of my mind.”

Remanding Pearson in custody until March 9 Judge Charles told him: “You will go with the dock officer now. Ms Organ will be down to see you.”