‘My abuser said no one would ever love me

David Pickthall was once considered a respected, enthusiastic and kind music teacher and choirmaster with an extensive career in film and television.

He was appointed MBE in 2015 for his services to education and charity and was described at Chelmsford Crown Court as “a pillar of the music community in Brentwood”.

The 66-year-old man, of Ingrave Road, Brentwood, Essex, was sentenced to 12 years in prison with a four-year extended license period on Monday after admitting 29 child sex offenses against 19 people aged over 40.

Mark, a survivor of Pickthall’s abuse and the first person to report his experiences to police in 2021, said: “Behind private doors – I don’t use that word lightly – he was a monster.”

Warning: This article contains themes of child sexual abuse

Pickthall was an accomplished musician and worked in television and film throughout his career; In 2004 he directed the score for Tracy Beaker: The Movie of Me, and in 2005 he oversaw the score for Julian Fellowes’ A Most Mysterious Murder. He also worked musically. Arranger of Channel Four’s The Paul O’Grady Show.

In the 1980s, Mark, whose real name was not, was a talented student with a talent for music. He was taking one-on-one piano lessons at Pickthall’s home.

He said Pickthall would play in many concerts: “He was such a good musician that his performances were very successful.

“At the end of this, he would turn around and the audience would stand up and give him a huge ovation, and he would bow down and feel the admiration of the people.”

However, Pickthall had abused Mark between the ages of 12 and 16.

He said the abuse initially began when the former teacher hit Mark on the back of his hand when he made a mistake during class. But six months later Pickthall began touching her genitals under her clothes.

“I was just a 12-year-old kid and he was a relatively famous and successful musician,” Mark said.

During his victim impact statement, Mark described Pickthall as a “compulsive and lifelong pedophile”.

“No one will ever love you” were just a few of the words that have haunted Mark for 40 years.

“Pickthall said ‘you’re the only person I’ve ever met who’s skinnier than me, no one is ever going to find you attractive or like you, so you should be grateful for the attention you get from me’ and that stuck with me to this day.”

Mark said the abuse ended when he quit music at 16, but he spent most of his adult life introverted and wary of “the damage adults could do”.

“I felt like I could never have a successful relationship with anyone.”

However, Mark married the love of his life and became a father.

Mark said the birth of his child gave him the courage to report Pickthall to police in 2021 and hoped it would protect other children.

At sentencing, Mark said he felt as if he had gained some justice.

Edward, whose real name is not available, said he met Pickthall when he was three and the abuse began when he was a student aged 12 or 13.

He would go to Pickthall’s home for one-on-one piano lessons and that’s where a lot of the abuse took place.

“I really saw him as a friend, he was someone I would see a lot on Saturday nights.

“We would get pizza and I remember drinking a lot of whiskey there and then on Sunday he would take me home and stay for Sunday lunch, that was the level of confidence he had.”

Edward said: “You’d go over there and he’d put pornography on the TV and then he’d sit next to you and then he’d feel if you were getting aroused while you were watching him, which was always a bit disturbing.”

Edward said he saw Pickthall put his hands down some other boys’ trousers and called it the “tickle spot”.

“He did this to me once and I hit him.”

“It’s weird looking back because it’s so incredibly wrong. You can’t really see it until you look with adult eyes.”

Edward said he had always been academic, had a successful career and a family of his own.

He said Essex Police contacted him in 2021.

“One of the reasons I didn’t come forward with that kind of grooming was because he was kind of a friend. So it’s really weird to start telling stories about a friend.

“But then you review all of this with an adult’s mind and realize he’s nothing more than a friend.”

Det Con Chelsie Stamford, of Essex Police, has been working on the investigation since October 2021 and said Pickthall was committing offenses until his arrest later that year.

He added that over the years Pickthall began using social media to harass young boys.

He said: “I think this case has revealed the tip of the iceberg in terms of Pickthall’s offending.”

Essex Police have appealed for anyone who can assist with the ongoing investigation to get in touch.