DEREK CABLE'S REIGN OF TERROR IN HASTINGS AND STOWMARKET: EXPOSED AS PEDOPHILE AND ABUSE SCANDAL

For over three decades, Derek Cable maintained a facade of respectability as a prominent music teacher and the leader of a renowned brass band, which he founded and took on international tours. However, beneath this polished exterior, Cable was revealed to be a manipulative paedophile who exploited his position to abuse young boys.

In November 2014, Cable, aged 74 and residing at Albany Court in Hastings, Sussex, was convicted of three counts of indecent assault against a boy who was only 11 years old at the time of the abuse, which occurred during 1975 and 1976. The victim, now 50, bravely testified at Ipswich Crown Court, recounting how Cable subjected him to inappropriate physical contact during private lunchtime trombone lessons at Stowmarket Middle School in Suffolk.

The court heard that while they were alone, Cable groped the boy and coerced him into performing a sex act, actions that left lasting scars. This was not an isolated incident. Records show that in 2003, Cable was previously sentenced to four years in prison for indecent assaults committed against five boys aged between 10 and 14 during the 1970s and early 1980s.

Following the recent trial, Kathy Yates, representing the victim, emphasized the profound and enduring impact of Cable’s actions. She stated, “The damage he has done to his victims will never leave them – issues like relationship problems and a deep mistrust of authority figures create ongoing difficulties in their lives and careers.” She further described Cable as a “particularly manipulative individual,” capable of charm and plausibility, all while concealing his criminal activities behind his public image as a successful music educator and conductor of an internationally recognized brass band.

Yates explained that her client’s troubled childhood and love of music served as an escape from his harsh reality. “When the abuse started, he faced a terrible dilemma—continue with his passion for music and endure the abuse, or abandon his only true passion in life to escape it,” she said.

In addition to his criminal convictions, Cable’s reputation was marred by a scandal involving former band members. In 2013, ten ex-members of the Stowmarket Schools Concert Band received a combined compensation of £210,000 from Suffolk County Council, which acknowledged no liability but settled the claims of abuse. One of these victims, now 45 and wishing to remain anonymous, recounted a particularly frightening experience at Cable’s house in Rattlesden, near Stowmarket, when he was 14. He was scheduled to stay there for a month while his parents were away, and upon arrival, Cable reportedly said, “Right, we don’t wear clothes in this house,” before asking him to remove his clothes and then removing his own, with both going about the house naked.

The young man managed to leave the house the following night, asserting that he was not physically assaulted or touched sexually, but the experience left a lasting impression. “I just felt very uncomfortable,” he said. “But because he had that authority over me, I just did what he said. It was a very scary experience and certainly left an impression on me. It’s ruined my life—over 20 years I coped with flashbacks, and it’s still there, although hypnotherapy has helped.”

At Stowmarket Middle School, Cable was employed as a full-time music teacher, overseeing four bands of varying skill levels. The former student described Cable’s private room at the school as a “lair,” where he would take boys for private meetings. The boy also revealed that children used to call Cable “Bender Barney” behind his back, reflecting the community’s awareness of his inappropriate behavior.

Cable’s musical career began in 1961 when he founded the Stowmarket Schools Concert Band. By 1971, the band was performing across Europe, the Far East, the United States, and Canada. After Cable’s departure, the band expanded its membership to include people of all ages and is now known simply as the Stowmarket Concert Band.

In June 2012, victims of Cable’s abuse sought damages from Suffolk County Council, which was being sued for failing to prevent the misconduct. The civil claim involved six men and could potentially result in a six-figure payout. Cable, known as “Barney” among pupils, was convicted in September 2003 of ten counts of indecent assault and eight of gross indecency against five boys during the 1970s and 1980s. His crimes spanned his tenure as the conductor and director of the band he founded in 1961, which toured extensively in the UK, Spain, France, Germany, and the United States.

During his career, Cable groomed victims with gifts such as money, cigarettes, and alcohol. After retiring, he moved to Singapore but returned to England in 2002 for a band reunion, which was orchestrated as a trap by one of his victims. He was subsequently arrested at the reunion. In 2006, at least two victims were offered £3,000 each in compensation from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority, though they refused, feeling it inadequate for the trauma endured. The victims’ legal representatives, Andrew Grove and Co, are now pursuing a formal compensation claim against Suffolk County Council, demanding substantial awards that reflect the severity of the abuse and the psychological damage inflicted.

Solicitor Mr. Grove urged witnesses or other victims to come forward, emphasizing the ongoing pursuit of justice for those affected by Cable’s predatory actions in Stowmarket and Hastings.