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| Chetham's choirmaster Michael Brewer jailed for sexual abuse | Chetham's choirmaster Michael Brewer jailed for sexual abuse |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A former choirmaster at Chetham's School of Music in Manchester has been jailed for indecently assaulting a former pupil from the age of 14. | A former choirmaster at Chetham's School of Music in Manchester has been jailed for indecently assaulting a former pupil from the age of 14. |
| Michael Brewer, from Birmingham, was convicted of sexually abusing Frances Andrade, who killed herself during the trial, between 1978 and 1982. | |
| Brewer, 68, was sentenced to six years imprisonment at Manchester Crown Court. | Brewer, 68, was sentenced to six years imprisonment at Manchester Crown Court. |
| His ex-wife Hilary Brewer, also 68, was sentenced to 21 months for indecently assaulting Mrs Andrade. | His ex-wife Hilary Brewer, also 68, was sentenced to 21 months for indecently assaulting Mrs Andrade. |
| On sentencing, Judge Martin Rudland described Brewer as "a sexual predator" and said his once outstanding career is now over. | On sentencing, Judge Martin Rudland described Brewer as "a sexual predator" and said his once outstanding career is now over. |
| Last month a jury convicted Brewer, of Swarthmore Road, Selly Oak, of five counts of indecently assaulting Mrs Andrade when she was 14 and 15 and known as Frances Shorney. | |
| The abuse took place in his office and in his camper van. | |
| Brewer was cleared of raping his victim when she was 18 and one charge of indecently assaulting the victim as a child in his home. | |
| Hilary Brewer, also known by her middle name Kay, of Knowl Gap Avenue, Haslingden, Rossendale was found guilty of indecent assault when Mrs Andrade was an adult at their then family home. | |
| She was cleared of aiding and abetting rape. | |
| They had both denied all charges. | |
| Mrs Andrade, a 48-year-old mother of four, was found dead at her home in Guildford, Surrey, less than a week after she gave evidence at the trial. | |
| Following the verdicts, her family said they believed the court system had let her down and criticised the judicial process. | |
| Her son Oliver said: "Being repeatedly called a 'liar' and a 'fantasist' about a horrific part of her life in front of a court challenged her personal integrity and was more than even she could bear." | |
| Chetham's School of Music is yet to comment on the sentencing. | |
| Brewer, who was made an OBE in 1995, directed the World Youth Choir and also worked on the BBC's Last Choir Standing television programme. | Brewer, who was made an OBE in 1995, directed the World Youth Choir and also worked on the BBC's Last Choir Standing television programme. |