18th Nov 2024

Former Brentwood School head of music, David Pickthall now sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court

David Pickthall sentenced to 12 years

On 11th November 2024 at Chelmsford Crown Court, David Pickthall, former head of music at Brentwood School in Essex, was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment with a further 4 years on extended licence. Judge Loram KC in sentencing Pickthall, described him as a dangerous offender. In determining the length of sentence, she referred to the long period of offending, the number of victims, the adaptations he made to commit covert offences and his lack of acceptance of wrongdoing.

The offences relate to 19 males, the majority of whom were schoolboys at the time of the offending, between 1980 and 2021. On 8th October 2024, Pickthall pleaded guilty to 29 offences, 16 counts of indecent assault, 10 counts of voyeurism and 3 counts of making an indecent image of a child. On Monday's hearing, Pickthall received a third off his sentence due to his early guilty plea.

Samantha Robson and Robert Shaw attended the sentencing hearing in a Court packed with survivors and family members. Robson Shaw solicitors are representing a number of claimants in civil claims against Brentwood School. Sam comments, `It was important to attend and support our clients. It was distressing to hear some of our clients read out their impact statements, they have been deeply affected their abusive experiences". Several of Pickthall's survivors are now qualified teachers. One commented that as a teacher he was instantly given trust in the community. Another said that being a teacher was an honoured and privileged position. Pickthall took advantage of his position as a respected teacher at Brentwood School and used his role to manipulate and abuse his students. This blatant breach of trust has caused lifelong psychological damage to many of his survivors.

Pickthall was represented by defence counsel Eve George. She read out a letter written by Pickthall to the Judge, which started, "I am profoundly sorry and deeply ashamed .....I recognise my actions were offensive and immoral. I wish I had behaved differently. I have fallen below my own standards". He went on to refer to his MBE and charitable work and the fact that the standards of the day in the 1980's and 1990's were different. His letter was not well received by the sentencing Judge. She commented these offences were just as despicable then as now.

Pickthall was impassive throughout the hearing, even when one of his victims fought back tears as he read his statement, Pickthall remained unmoved.
If you or a family member have been affected by the David Pickthall scandal, please contact either Samantha Robson or Robert Shaw, both of whom are representing survivors who were former pupils of Brentwood School. Robert adds, "Some of those who have come forward to us were not named in the criminal proceedings, but we have encouraged them to report their allegations. Despite the fact that Pickthall is now behind bars, it is still important to contact the officer in the case, DC Chelsie Stamford of Essex police and report what happened".

We are offering no win no fee arrangements for these claims which are already underway against the school. These claims are being pursued in vicarious liability. The school were responsible for employing a teacher who abused pupils in his care both on and off school premises. Please contact Sam on 01392 345331, or email her at sam@robsonshaw.uk, or Robert on his direct dial 01392 345332 or robert@robsonshaw.uk.
 

Category: Schools