Paul Stubbings, 55, was Master of Music at the landmark Trafalgar Square church and taught the then 17 year-old, who he regularly invited to his nearby apartment.
On one evening he plied the youngster with gin and tonics, plus red wine before inviting himself into the spare room, where the teen was sleeping overnight and jumped into bed with him.
Stubbings, who has travelled the globe playing organ recitals and whose St. Martin-in-the-Field recordings are still available on CD, received two years imprisonment, suspended for two years.
He pleaded guilty to one count of indecently assaulting the schoolboy at his former Westminster address on December 15, 1999 and was also ordered to complete 300 hours community service, plus twenty-five days of rehabilitation.
Southwark Crown Court heard Stubbings, of Ellington Road, Ramsgate lost his most recent role of ‘Sessional Academic’ at Canterbury Christ Church University on admitting his guilt and is living with his mother in his native North Yorkshire and claiming benefits.
“You ought to be thoroughly ashamed of what you have done,” Judge Christopher Hehir told Stubbings. “Almost every aspect of his life has been affected by what you did.
“His parents say they feel ‘anguish’ that they were unable to protect their son from what you did. There was abuse of trust and use of alcohol to facilitate the offence.”
Prosecutor Nicole Shaw told the court the victim was an ambitious and enthusiastic young musician, who eventually studied at Oxford University.
“He was slowly coming out as gay and was regularly invited by Stubbings to his flat near the church, which he shared with his partner.
“They had dinners and alcohol was always provided and the complainant says it felt like a haven for like-minded individuals.
“On the day of the offence when the complainant was to stay overnight Stubbings’ partner was not there and they had two large gin and tonics and lots of red wine,” explained Ms Shaw.
“They were sitting on the sofa and Stubbings began rubbing his foot against the foot of the complainant, who by now was quite drunk.
“He went to the spare bedroom and this defendant appeared at the door and came in and got into bed with the complainant.”
It was then Stubbings repeatedly kissed the victim and molested him between his legs, flattering him in a mock camp voice.
“This lasted ten to fifteen minutes and the next morning Stubbings seemed ‘sheepish’ says the complainant, who felt the defendant was seeking assurance nothing would be said about it.”
The victim refused future invites to the apartment and reported Stubbings to the senior clergy at St. Martin-in-the-Fields, who gave the defendant the option of resigning or being fired.
He also reported Stubbings to the police, but refused to support a prosecution and the complaint went no further.
The victim sat a few feet from Stubbings throughout the two-hour hearing and went into the witness box to say: “It was impossible at the time to know what a detrimental effect this would have on my life.
“I had a strained relationship with my parents that Paul weaponised.”
The victim enjoyed several meals with Stubbings and his partner. “They filled my head with how gay life functioned and took advantage of my naivety.
“Because of the stories they were spinning me I felt like what happened was a consequence of gay life and I was made to feel like it was my fault.”
Following the indecent assault the victim’s A Levels suffered and he endured a three-month stress-related illness.
“Paul and his friends spread malicious rumours that I lied about the whole thing and the organist community of London turned rank against me.
“My love for music and playing the organ died and when I looked in the mirror all I could see was shadow,” the complainant told the court.
“In my first year of Oxford I was suicidal and almost asked the verger for the keys to the tower to throw myself from and I felt like that three times.”
Describing the last quarter of a century as a time of “pain and suffering” the man, now in his early forties said he came forward again to encourage other potential victims to do the same.
Stubbings’ lawyer Jennifer Dannhauser said: “This is a one-off offence that occurred twenty-five years ago and has not been repeated.
“This was a one-off serious failure and it is not something he has done before or since.
“His hard work and illustrious career has been affected and he is now on benefits and the pre-sentence report says he is at low risk of serious offending or causing personal harm.”
Judge Hehir told Stubbings: “I am prepared to accept your genuine remorse, but you used your career to commit this offence, although no other complainants were made at the time or since.
“You lost your job, which was hardly surprising and have now lost your most recent job as a result of coming to court.
“I have not found this an easy decision, but it is just appropriate to suspend the sentence.
“This was not an easy decision and you have avoided prison by a hair’s breadth and I hope you reflect on the damage you have done and I repeat my admiration of the victim who has attended today.”
Stubbings will also have to sign the sex offenders register and pay £150 costs.
1 comment:
How the mighty have fallen! Imagine throwing your whole career away for a snog and a grope.
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