Duncan McTier: Leading musician admits sex assaults on students
- Published
Duncan McTier entered guilty pleas shortly before he was due to go on trial
A world-renowned musician who taught in Manchester has admitted sex offences against three of his ex-students.
Double bass soloist Duncan McTier, 59, pleaded guilty at Liverpool Crown Court to two counts of indecent assault and one of attempted indecent assault.
McTier, of Isleworth, west London, entered the guilty pleas shortly before he was due to go on trial.
He was given a three-month jail sentence suspended for two years and ordered to do 240 hours of unpaid work.
The groping offences are believed to involve three women - at the time aged 17, 21 and 23 - between 1985 and 1994.
'Took advantage'
Each of the victims were gifted musicians and pupils of McTier, who taught at various prestigious music schools including the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester.
He touched two of his victim's breasts over their clothing and on the other occasion put his arm around another pupil.
Passing sentence, Mr Justice MacDuff said: "It's a long time ago, but that behaviour as you know was shameful and horrid for somebody who had the trust of students and took advantage of your position, or tried to, because you could influence their potential careers and that's what makes this the more serious."
McTier was arrested by Greater Manchester Police in an investigation triggered by the conviction last year of Michael Brewer, former director of music at Chetham's School of Music in Manchester.
Brewer was found guilty of sexually assaulting Frances Andrade, a pupil at the school, from the age of 14. She killed herself after giving evidence against him.
A spokesman for the Royal Academy of Music said: "In May 2014 Duncan McTier was charged by police regarding historic cases of sexual abuse in Manchester before his employment at the Royal Academy of Music.
"During his bail Duncan McTier was placed on a precautionary suspension from duty at the academy. He has now resigned from the academy with immediate effect."