Music Teacher Jailed For Groping 11 Year-Old Boy During Piano Lesson

A popular music teacher and radio DJ was jailed for twenty months on Friday for groping a nine year-old pupil during a school piano lesson and having a collection of child porn.

Jazz musician John Gowers, 52, a former host on Meridian FM, who complained on Facebook he was the victim of a "witch hunt", had also downloaded indecent images on his home computer.

Woolwich Crown Court heard Gowers, (pictured) of Great Water Farm Cottages, Ashurst, East Sussex, who forced the schoolboy to give evidence, finally confessed to a probation officer he did abuse the youngster.

He was the front man of the John Gowers Jazz Quartet, playing saxophone, clarinet and singing at clubs in the Home Counties and was heavily involved in public street performances during events and festivals.

Judge Andrew Lees told disgraced Gowers: "You have also admitted to a probation officer that you have been viewing child abuse images for ten years on your computer.

"It is clear, and you admit it, that you have an interest in young boys and your offending has gone further and not only have you look at these images you have gone on to act out your fantasies with a young boy.

"That offending was in breach of trust, you were his piano teacher trusted to give a proper piano lesson and not molest him, but you did molest him and did not have the courage to admit it.

"You have now admitted it to the probation service, but that is no comfort to the victim because he had to come to court and give evidence and has been molested, which is something he will remember for the rest of his life."

Gowers denied, but was convicted of two counts of sexually assaulting the boy on December 5, last year at the unnamed school in the London Borough of Lewisham.

Before the trial he pleaded guilty to four counts of possessing indecent images, which relate to sixteen at Level One - the lowest category - six at Level Two and one at Level Four.

The vile content was found on his home computer, which was seized and examined by police investigating the sexual assault allegation and revealed internet searches including: 'pre-teen boy nudity' and 'boy sex'.

On Friday prosecutor Mr. Patrick Moran told the court: "The offences are a gross breach of trust at a location where the child should have felt at his safest."

During the trial he told the jury: "Mr. Gowers was the boy's piano teacher and he was giving the boy a private piano lesson during the school lunch break.

"The defendant is alleged to have touched parts of the boy's body, his penis, his bottom and he touched them for several seconds, long enough for it to be no accident.

"The boy was fully clothed in school uniform and in the middle of playing a piece of music.

"Mr. Gowers said nothing and just kept his hand there and the boy felt very awkward, did not say anything and left after the lesson.

"That evening the boy told his mother, she contacted the school the next morning, and the police were informed.

"The defendant denied having touched the boy in the way described," explained Mr. Moran. "He said he remembered touching his leg, above the knee, but only because he was leaning over.

"He denied touching the boy's penis at all."

Gowers' lawyer Miss Lauren Soertsz told the court: "There is no dispute that Mr. Gowers was, for many years, a very good teacher and for many years taught at a prep school as someone who nurtured and encouraged youngsters' love of music.

"As he committed the offence he asked himself: 'What have I done?'

"It is rare to see an admission in a probation report following a trial and I ask the court to see it as a positive that Mr. Gowers has at a late stage been able to face up to his behaviour, his criminality.

"This is a man who has faced up to the darker aspect of his psyche."

The court heard Gowers has been drinking heavily and has two convictions for driving with excess alcohol.

"Alcohol has recently become more of a pressing problem for him and he is obviously an extremely troubled individual and the consumption of alcohol has been used for several years to suppress the darker recesses of his mind.

"He has lost his job, his reputation, his income, his home and the respect of others" added Miss Soertsz. "This is an offence that has considerable stigma to it and it has been reported in the press and has come to the attention of his mother, who he lives with."

The defendant received sixteen months imprisonment for the sexual assaults, plus a consecutive four months for possessing the child pornography.

Judge Lees made an indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order, which restricts Gowers' contact with children and his internet use and he must sign the sex offenders register for ten years.

Miss Soertsz submitted the offence lasted only "eleven seconds" during twenty-five weeks of thirty minute lesson, but Judge Lees told Gowers: "It is not right to say the activity towards the young boy was minor.

"You were looking at images of naked and semi-naked pre-pubescent boys in various poses for ten years, boys that had been horrendously abused and that does cause harm and you need to understand that and I don't think you have until now."

Gowers was also made subject to an indefinite ban from working with children and vulnerable persons and was order to pay a £100 victim surcharge.

Somalian Benefits Fraudster's £91K Swindle

A Somalian overstayer, who has been twice convicted of identity fraud and successfully battled deportation for a decade, has avoided prison for a £91,000 benefit swindle.

Mother-of-four Ayan Ismail, 39, of Edington Road, Abbey Wood has persistently lied and broken the law to obtain residency in the UK since 1998, but this latest conviction is no guarantee she will finally be removed from the country.

Her three oldest daughters were granted temporary visas to enter the UK for her wedding, but have never left and she has since given birth to another girl in this country during her failed marriage to a UK citizen.

Until the custody of that child is settled all deportation proceedings have been postponed even though Ismail was served with removal papers on July 29, 2010.

Taxpayers will not see one penny of their money returned after Woolwich Crown Court Judge David Tomlinson announced: "Awarding compensation is undesirable in a case like this." 

He sentenced her to eighteen months imprisonment, suspended for two years, and ordered her to obey a night time electronically monitored home curfew for four months. 

Ismail, who obtained Canadian citizenship via marriage, successfully applied for a National Insurance number in a false identity in October, 2005 and immediately began claiming housing benefit; council tax benefit; income support; disability living allowance and employment and support allowance.

Using the bogus name of Saediya Mohamed she successfully applied for permanent leave to remain in the UK, but was stripped of this right after her second identity fraud conviction.

Under another false name she was convicted at Warwick Crown Court on September 30, 2004 of seeking to remain in the UK, by deception, and was sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for twelve months.

At Chelmsford Crown Court on June 26, 2009 she received eighteen months imprisonment for possession of a false identity document, namely a forged National Insurance card, and seeking to obtain leave in the UK by deception.

Prosecutor Miss Eleanor Mawrey told the court: "Miss Ismail is a Canadian citizen with no entitlement to claim state benefits in the United Kingdom.

"She applied for a National Insurance number in a false name, claiming exceptional need, and for proof of identity included a child benefit claim form and a British Telecom bill.

"The National Insurance number was issued in that false name, but as a Canadian citizen Miss Ismail was not entitled to one and if her true identity was known it would not have been issued.

"The number entitled her to claim state benefits," explained Miss Mawrey, who said the fraud lasted from December 5, 2005 until March 6, last year.

Ismail claimed £46,634 in housing benefit; £5,047 in council tax benefit; £21,470 in income support; £15,092 in disability living allowance and £3,330 in employment and support allowance.

Her home was raided in November, last year and a search revealed correspondence in Ismail's name and her fake identity of Saediya Mohamed.

She collapsed and an ambulance rushed her to hospital, postponing any questioning, and a second interview was abandoned when she turned up with all of her children.

The benefit swindle spanned her second identity fraud conviction and the only gap in payments was between July, 2009 and January, 2010 when she was in custody.

"Despite those identity fraud convictions she was still signing forms in the name of Saediya Mohamed," added Miss Mawrey. "All those claims were fraudulent from the outset."

Ismail's lawyer Mr. Ian Dowty told the court: "She is somebody who has had an unfortunate childhood in Somalia, where she witnessed matters that traumatised her, the killing of her uncle and aunt.

'This comes from a childhood where nothing is safe and death is around the corner.

"She has been treated for post-traumatic stress disorder and it requires some courage on her part to accept the current situation.

"It is right that she does not read or write english and someone else must have assisted her to fill out the forms. She was assisted by her latest husband, but she knew perfectly well she was not entitled to benefit.

"It is difficult to say she is not a dishonest woman because she is, but it is in a certain area and the only reason that she remains here is because her seven year-old daughter is a British subject."

The court heard Ismail fled an abusive marriage in Canada to a man nearly thirty years her senior and moved in with a cousin who lived in London.

"She is now surviving in this country without benefits with the help of people who have rallied around to support her," explained Mr. Dowty.

Judge Tomlinson told Ismail, who needed the assistance of an interpreter,: "Not for the first time you have adopted a false identity and using that identity you have obtained this money from hard-working people in this country.

"The aggravating factor is that you have previous convictions and have served a custodial sentence.

"There is an overwhelming public interest to send out a message by sending you to prison, but there is also the impact this would have on your child."

Ismael pleaded guilty one week before her trial to three counts of obtaining a money transfer by deceptions, one count of evading a liability by deception and one count of fraud by failing to disclose information, with intent to make a gain.

Boozy Asylum-Seeker Caught Behind The Wheel - Again

An asylum-seeker, who claims he fled opression in his native Zimbabwe at the hands of Robert Mugabe, has dodged prison with a suspended sentence for his latest drink-related driving offence.

Since being allowed to remain in the UK seven years ago Joshua Tarisai Muchato, 51, of Bishops Rise, Hatfield, Hertfordshire has clocked-up eleven offences.

The engineering student, who is also employed as a plumber pleaded guilty to failing to give a breath-test to police after he was stopped at 8.30 am in his Toyota Corolla while driving through the square mile.

City of London Magistrates' Court (pictured) heard Muchato stopped at every green light he encountered as officers followed him and he was pulled over.

Police could detect the smell of alcohol on his breath and he failed a roadside breath-test, but later refused to give a sample at the station.

He claims he did not think he would be still over the limit after drinking heavily the night before and admitted to a probation officer that he was an alcoholic.

Muchato has at least one previous driving disqualification and a history of drink-related driving offences.

He was sentenced to three months imprisonment, suspended for two years, and disqualified from driving for three-and-a-half years.

He was also ordered to complete a twelve-month supervision order, 60 hours community service work and must pay £85 costs and an £80 victim surcharge.

Prolific Burglar's Latest Crime Spree Ended With Another Prison Sentence

A serial burglar's break-in "spree" was ended when he was seen by the occupier of the latest property he targeted driving away in the family car, which he had loaded-up with valuables.

Paul Freeman, 30, of Rectory Green, Beckenham scoped the Eltham residential neighbourhood on a bike and broke in at 8.05 am, waking-up a man who was sleeping upstairs.

He immediately called the police, who stopped Freeman in the vehicle four hours later and arrested him.

While in police custody Freeman confessed to twenty similar domestic burglaries, which he asked Woolwich Crown Court to take into consideration when sentencing him.

He pleaded guilty to burgling the Eltham home on October 9, stealing a computer, a ring and the car keys and taking and driving away the vehicle and was sentenced to four years and four months imprisonment.

Freeman has been locked-up for six-and-a-half of the last eleven years and had just been released from prison when he started burgling homes again.

He received four months for burglary at Guildford Crown Court in October, 2006; twenty-nine months at Canterbury Crown Court in 2010 and three years at Basildon Crown Court in March, last year.

The court heard Freeman found himself homeless and burgled to fund his cocaine and crack habit.

He told police when quizzed about his crime wave: "It was a cry for help. I feel terrible."

Judge Anuja Dhir QC said: "He was certainly on a spree during August, September and October."

She told Freeman, whose lawyer asked for the court to place him on probation: "You are a prolific burglar with a long history of offending.

"It wasn't long after your release that you started this particular spree of burglaries.

"You are going into another person's home, taking their personal property, which may have sentimental value and the vast majority of these burglaries involved the taking of jewellery, which almost always has sentimental value and cannot be replaced."

Vile Paedo Who Abused Autistic Teenager Caged For 12 Years

A paedophile, who repeatedly sexually-abused a severely autistic teenage boy believing he would not complain or be taken seriously if he ever did, has been jailed for twelve years.

Christopher Williams, 62, of Selhurst Road, South Norwood denied the claims, insisting the allegations against him had been fabricated, forcing the vulnerable victim to give evidence to the jury.

The complainant says he was aged between fourteen and sixteen years-old when abused at the hands of Williams several years ago at the defendant's flat.

Williams was found guilty at Croydon Crown Court of five counts of sexual activity with a mentally disordered male between September 10, 2004 and September 11, 2008.

“He has been diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder and learning difficulties and experiences high levels of anxiety,” prosecutor Mr. Mark Gadsen told the jury.

“Because of his mental disorder he was not able to give informed consent to the sexual activity that occurred.

“The defendant knew all about him and his learning difficulties, but says nothing improper ever happened.”

The jury were told Williams had sex with the boy, touched him intimately and made the complainant touch him.

“He says sexual activity occurred on a number of occasions and took different forms,” added Mr. Gadesen.

“The defendant took advantage of him, knowing he had autism and learning difficulties, believing he would get away with it and that it was unlikely the complainant would tell anyone or be believed.”

In April, 2009 the complainant reported the allegations to a relative, who informed the police and Williams was quizzed.

“He flatly denied the allegations. He said the complainant had come to his house three times, but nothing sexual had occurred.

“The defendant says he has made it up for whatever reason.”

Williams was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Greedy Rogue Trader Ripped-Off Trusting Pensioner

A rogue landscape gardener, who preyed on a vulnerable 83 year-old homeowner who paid excessive fees for shoddy unnecessary work, has received a suspended prison sentence.

Jason Jones, 42, of Worcester Road, Titton, Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire harassed the pensioner – described as “very trusting and very friendly” - who was charged over £7,000 for the work on his south London property.

A concerned neighbour, who feared the victim was being ripped-off, called the police and Croydon council's trading standards team launched an investigation.

Jones (pictured) was sentenced to four months imprisonment, suspended for two years, ordered to perform 100 hours unpaid community service work and pay his victim £3,100 compensation.

He pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court to engaging in aggressive commercial practise between August 23, last year and February 22 that amounted to harassment in relation to work on the driveway, patio, walkway, roof and gutters of the house in Ryefield Road, Upper Norwood.

Jones also pleaded guilty to three counts of contravening professional diligence, which included the unnecessary jet-washing of the property's roof and carrying-out the jet-washing, sanding and gritting of the driveway and walkway to a poor standard.

The court heard the victim's neighbour feared the pensioner was being conned by Jason's Tree and Landscapes after a similar incident involving other rogue traders, who took money from the elderly gentleman.

The investigation revealed Jones had visited the property (pictured) on at least three occasions over the course of a year, with the victim agreeing to any work that was suggested.

A surveyor described the method used to power wash the house's roof had a detrimental effect on the condition of the tiles.

Jones extracted over £3,000 during his first two visits and taking advantage of the victim's trusting nature and poor memory returned, claiming he needed to finish earlier jobs.

The victim could not remember what had been done, and Jones had not provided a schedule of works to which he could refer.

The neighbour who called the police persuaded the pensioner to cancel cheques for a further sum of more than £4,000 before they reached Jones’ bank account.

Councillor Simon Hoar, cabinet member for consumer protection, said: “This is a great result for our trading standards team, and the total bill of £8,180 that Jones now faces is bigger than the amount which he tried to con from the victim.

“Quite apart from the suspended prison sentence and order for unpaid work, this shows that crime does not pay.

“Justice was possible only because of the actions of the concerned neighbour, enabling the suspect to be caught red-handed.

“This case highlights how important it is for all Croydon residents to look out for their neighbours, particularly those who might be vulnerable by virtue of their age or living situation.”

Jones was also ordered to pay the council £5,000 costs and pay an £80 victim surcharge.

Romanian Big Issue Seller Steals £50 From Blind Pensioner Customer

A Romanian Big Issue seller was caught by the public and off-duty police officers after stealing a £50 from a kindly blind pensioner, who was buying a copy of the homeless mag for £1.

Razvan Dumitru, 22, (pictured) of Victoria Road, Lower Edmonton was selling copies outside Morrisons supermarket in High Street, Sutton on November 30.

When the 66 year-old victim stopped to buy one he reached into her purse and snatched five £10 notes.

A mother with her two children saw what was going on and a passing man saw the pensioner was distressed.

Dumitru denied taking the cash and started packing up, but was detained after a struggle with the passer-by, who was assisted by a member of the store's security staff.

Police were called and the sergeant was assisted by two passing off-duty police officers.



Dumitru was found with £23 in his pocket and £50 in notes between copies of the magazine in his bag.

He was arrested for theft from a person and later pleaded guilty at Croydon Magistrates Court.


The victim was "over the moon" with the help she received from members of the public and police and would like to thank them for their support.

She told police she would regularly give the vendor £1 whilst shopping after recognising his voice from his sales calls, but would always politely decline the chance to take away a copy of the magazine because she couldn't read it.



Detective Constable Lee Blunden, the investigating officer, said: "At this time of festive cheer and goodwill, it's hard to imagine a less charitable act than stealing from a blind person.

“We would like to thank those members of the public who came forward to help this victim."

He will be sentenced at Croydon Crown Court on a date to be fixed.

Sleazy Harrods Chef Made Secret Sex Calls To Co-Workers

A Harrods chef, who made repeated sexually-explicit anonymous phone calls to five attractive female co-workers at the department store, leaving them "extremely frightened and distressed," was sentenced today.

Married Robert Perez, 31, admitted watching pornography then breathing heavily down the line while playing with himself as he called his colleagues because "he knew he could not have them."

The first-time offender, of Princes Way, Bletchley, Milton Keynes pleaded guilty to five counts of stalking, involving serious harm or distress, on or before September 30 and was placed on a three-year supervision order.

"You took advantage of your work to harvest the telephone numbers of female employees from notice boards and other sources," Isleworth Crown Court Judge Martin Edmunds QC told him.

"Then on occasions when you were alone you telephoned them and in the case of one texted that victim with obscene words and messages.

"In the course of these telephone calls, often repeated to the same victim, you used their names.

"The victims sensed that you were masturbating while telephoning them and you later admitted to the police that you would watch pornography and make calls and masturbate.

"The fact you were gaining sexual pleasure adds to the distress and serious alarm these victims did feel."

Prosecutor Mr. Richard Bendall told the court the offences occurred between December, 2011 and the defendant's arrest on September 30, with another innocent employee initially coming under suspicion.

"The defendant was working as a chef at Harrods and a number of female employees were receiving obscene telephone calls and the people being called were referred to by name.

Perez's words included: "I want to lick your p**** and a***," and "How about you and I f*** and then you can suck my d***," as well as:  'I will f*** you in the a***'."

Mr. Bendall explained: "They got the impression the person was masturbating and making moaning noises at the time of the call."

The calls came from unidentified pay-as-you-go phones, but when the police were informed a court order revealed the source of the calls were somewhere in the Milton Keynes area and Harrow, which Perez often visited.

One of the phones used belonged to a friend of the defendant's wife.

When arrested Perez, (pictured) who is now a pub chef, immediately confessed and told officers: "I made the calls, I admit it was me."

Mr. Bendall added: "He said he would not have acted upon them and was acting out a sexual fantasy and would not have approached them."

Perez's lawyer Mr. John Oliver told the court: "The defendant and his wife have renewed their vows since he pleaded guilty and he supports his partner who no longer works due to pregnancy.

"Mr. Perez's wife has been very supportive and he puts the offences down to twelve to eighteen months of pressure, the pressure of the marriage soon after his wife's father died and the long hours he worked as a chef.

"He chose this as a way to relieve that stress and since seeing the victims statements he is aware how serious this offence was.

"He has contacted MIND for counselling sessions and has attended three of six."

Judge Edmunds decided not to make a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, but did ban Perez from entering Harrods for three years under the Protection from Harassment Act.

"These are offences of stalking involving serious alarm or distress and the courts understand how distressing stalking behaviour can be to the victims.

"This extremely worrying and distressing behaviour could well have resulted in you being sent to prison today.

"It is my hope that those you victimised and frightened will understand this sentence is designed to prevent anything like this happening again.

"If you breach this order you will be sentenced again and I have no doubt sent to prison."

Perez received a three year supervision order, which requires compliance with the Thames Valley Sex Offenders Treatment Programme and was ordered to pay a £60 victim surcharge.

Kebab Shop Paedo Jailed For Molesting Schoolgirl Customer

A kebab shop worker, who molested an eleven year-old girl as she waited for her order, has been jailed for twelve months.

Ali Tok, 50, (pictured) of Allwood Close, Sydenham invited the schoolgirl behind the counter of the fast-food restaurant, told her he was in love with her and carried out the sex attack.

He was convicted at Woolwich Crown Court of sexually assaulting the girl at the kebab shop in Leahurst Road, Lewisham on February 7.

The victim was extremely scared and began to cry and when her food was ready Tok simply passed it to her and she left.



The girl went straight home, told her mother what had happened and the police were called.


Officer attended the shop where Tok was still serving behind the counter and arrested him.



In his police interview Tok claimed the victim had become distressed after dropping her food and his face had brushed against hers as he helped her pick it up.

He said he had given her a consoling pat on the back and denied sexually assaulting her.



Detective Inspector Jim Pryde, from the Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command, said: "The young victim has been extremely brave and there is no doubt this assault has rocked her confidence and trust in people.



"With the support of specially trained officers, she has seen her attacker convicted and this sends out a strong a message to anyone who sexually abuses children that they will be pursued and brought to justice." 

Double-Rapist Convicted After Luring Two Young Women To His Flat

A double-rapist, who lured two Chinese students to his flat – threatening one of them with a meat cleaver – is facing years of being locked-up himself after he was convicted at Woolwich Crown Court.

Li Hao, 39, of Gautrey Road, Peckham advertised a non-existent spare room for rent at his one-bedroom flat and raped his 24 year-old victim when she arrived on December 30, last year.

He threatened her with the weapon once she was trapped inside his locked flat, but after forcing the young woman to have sex she fought him during an escape bid, inflicting a head injury with the cleaver.

Hao was arrested for rape and false imprisonment despite claiming he was the victim of grievous bodily harm, but while on bail he lured another 24 year-old woman to his flat on March 17.

She believed they were going to discuss a business deal, but the defendant locked her inside his flat and raped and sexually assaulted her.

Again police were called and Hao arrested.

He will be sentenced on January 10, next year for two counts of rape, one count of sexual assault and two counts of false imprisonment.

Detective Constable Pete Thompson said: "These were two extremely serious cases where Hao had met these two unsuspecting victims and lured them to his home.

“Both cases have striking similarities. On both occasions he imprisoned his victim and subjected them to a horrendous ordeal.

“The victims in these cases showed tremendous strength and courage to firstly escape from HAO, to report these incidents to the police and to finally give evidence at the subsequent trial.

“It is clear that Hao is a danger to woman." 

Pianist Guilty Of Fondling 15 Year-Old Girl

An internationally renowned concert pianist's career is in tatters after he was convicted of fondling a 15 year-old girl while seducing the youngster's love-struck mother on his couch.

Oxford-educated Robin Zebaida, 49, a graduate of the Royal College of Music, ran his hand up and down the teen, caressing her thigh and bottom, while simultaneously "french kissing" her mother.

He was found guilty by an Isleworth Crown Court jury yesterday of sexually assaulting the girl at his St. John's Wood apartment in Grove End Gardens, Grove End Road on November 24, last year.

Zebaida, who fought the charge, was conditionally discharged for two years, ordered to sign the sex offenders register for two years and pay a £15 victim surcharge.

His successful career had also involved teaching music masterclasses to youngsters all over the world with the British Council and being an approved examiner with the Royal College of Music.

Zebaida revealed the accusations, which left him: "stunned, shocked," meant he had to decline performance work worth £15,000 to £20,000.

The jury heard the widowed mother pursued the defendant after meeting him while performing on a Mediterranean cruise, sending him boxes of chocolates and arranging dates in London. 

She told the court she wanted things to go further and joined Zebaida on a two-seater sofa, with her daughter on the other side, and the defendant's arms around their shoulders.

"While embracing them in that way Mr. Zebaida, as he brought his hand down on the girl's hip, put his hand under the top she was wearing on her bare flesh" prosecutor Mr. Mark Gadsden explained.

"He stroked her there and moved his hand up to her breast, where her bra was, but did not touch her breast.

"He started kissing the mother, 'smooching' as the daughter described it, french-kissing.

"The daughter then lay on the floor, complaining of the effects of the alcohol the defendant plied them both with, she had been drinking miniatures, and consumed more then the adults.

"He coaxed her back on to the couch and caressed her thigh and bottom in a slow and deliberate way," explained Mr. Gadsden. "He also kissed her on the neck and she felt unable to stop it happening.

"The mother never saw any of this sexual touching of her daughter and the defendant may have been disinhibited from the effects of the alcohol, the music, the romance."

It was the fourth date involving all three after twice meeting at the Steinway studios, where Zebaida was practising, and once to the Imperial War Museum and they returned to his apartment after dining at an Iranian restaurant.

"We sat on the sofa and he put some music on and we had some alcoholic drinks," the mother told the jury. "My daughter had one or two vodka miniatures and I think he had some whiskey.

"He had an arm around each of us and he kissed me, which turned into a french kiss," she explained. "It was a bit of a surprise.

"He had an arm around my waist and an arm around my daughter's back and French-kissed me several times within bouts of conversation."

The daughter reluctantly shared the sofa-bed with her mother that night, the court heard. "She was uncomfortable with Robin and she wanted to leave.

"She told me his hand had been under her shirt and against her stomach."

The pair left early in the morning, despite the defendant encouraging them to stay, claimed the mother. "He said we should stay longer and began cuddling me and started undoing my bra."

The girl shared her experience with a counsellor three months later and the police were informed, resulting in Zebaida's arrest and charge.

"I was absolutely stunned, shocked and could not comprehend how this could have been made. It made no sense," he told the jury, also denying sucking the girl's finger and kissing her neck.

The British-born defendant, who has a diploma in physiology and massage, said he did touch the woman's daughter lightly because of her posture and back problems following the fatal car crash that claimed the lives of her father and brother.

"At the museum she said she had a bit of a sore back and I just touched her and when she played the piano I suggested that she sat a little more straight and just touched her on the shoulder."