A former music teacher and school band leader sexually assaulted a boy during private lessons, a court heard.
Derek Cable, 74, of Robertson Terrace, Hastings, went on trial at Ipswich Crown Court this week.
He has pleaded not guilty to three charges of indecently assaulting a boy aged under 13 between 1975 and 1976.
The allegations have been made by a former pupil who said that when he was aged about 11 he had received private music tuition from Cable who was a teacher at a school in Suffolk.
Prosecutor Mark Halsey said the boy had been a talented musician and received individual lessons from Cable who ran a band in which the boy had played.
It was during one of those lessons that he had been followed and sexually assaulted by Cable while going into a storeroom to collect some music, alleged the boy.
The witness told the jury: “I was confused. I don’t recall him saying anything - he carried on with the rest of the music lesson.”
Similar incidents had occurred during two more lessons, it was claimed. The alleged victim said: “He said nobody else needed to know about it and, if I said anything, it would be a shame if I had to leave the band for any reason.”
Giving evidence, the man denied defence suggestions that he had levelled the claims of abuse against Cable in order to gain financially from compensation and was adamant that the incidents had taken place as he had described.
While being cross examined, the man told defence barrister Tanya Robinson: “You are suggesting that I am making it all up to get some money. You are wrong. You don’t know how wrong you are.”
Ms Robinson said that Cable had no recollection of having taught the man music and completely denied the allegations. The trial was expected to end today. (THURS)