Pianist admits to gay porn but denies sex abuse

An renowned concert pianist accused of sexual offences against two former students and three Sea Cadets over a 25-year period has dismissed some claims as “utter fabrication”.
John BriggsJohn Briggs
John Briggs

Bingley musician John Briggs, 65, who was made an MBE for his services to Sea Cadets, insisted during his evidence to a jury at Bradford Crown Court that he had not molested any of the alleged victims..

Briggs, who has been married for almost 25 years, accepted that he had “gay tendencies” and the jury heard that police recovered a legally-held DVD collection of adult pornography.

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But Briggs, of Little Lane, East Morton, said he had no sexual interest in boys aged between 10 and 15 and he dismissed his possession of the gay pornography as a very small part of his life.

One complainant last week alleged that Briggs had been wearing a pink dressing gown when he tried to indecently assault him in his attic “pad” at a previous address in Bingley.

But Briggs said he had not worn such an item and his attic accommodation had never looked 
like the complainant had described.

At one stage during his evidence Briggs suggested that the complainant, who had been having piano lessons at his home, had perhaps given his “greatest performance” last week.

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“Can you suggest any reason why these various individuals might saw things about you which aren’t true,” asked Briggs’ barrister Nicholas Askins.

“No I can’t,” replied Briggs.

Briggs said only one Sea Cadet had ever come alone to his East Morton home and he arrived unannounced. He said his mother, secretary and a cleaner were there at the time and the boy left after they had chatted.

During cross-examination by prosecutor Nick Worsley the defendant said he never asked a piano student to lie on the floor to do posture exercises and he branded a claim by another pupil that they had had sex as “total fabrication”.

Briggs denied ever having Sea Cadets at his home to do odd jobs such as cleaning out his fish 
pond and said he never owned a camcorder until his sister bought him one as a 60th birthday present.

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One of the complainants has alleged that Briggs paid him £80 in the early 1990s after filming him performing a sex act.

The defendant has pleaded not guilty to nine offences of indecent assault and one of indecency with a child.

The trial continues.