Jan Repko on trial for alleged assault during violin lesson
The 68‑year‑old former teacher says he was showing technique exercises when the complainant says he touched her without consent.
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MyLondon reported that Jan Repko, a 68‑year‑old former violin teacher, is standing trial at Southwark Crown Court. He is charged with sexual assault by touching and assault by penetration after a consultation lesson with a woman who came to play a few pieces for him.
Background
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The court heard that Repko met the complainant for a taster session. She was asked to play some violin pieces so he could assess her level. During the session Repko is said to have shown her exercises intended to relax her hand and improve posture.
Allegations
According to MyLondon, the complainant told police that Repko approached her and asked "May I?" which she understood as a request to touch her hand. She said yes, but instead he placed one hand on her waist and another on her bottom. She said she was shocked and did not know how to respond, continuing to play before Repko moved his hand over her crotch area, undid her trousers and assaulted her with his finger.
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Defence
Repko gave evidence on Wednesday and said he was demonstrating an exercise to help the student relax. He told the jury he asked her twice if it was alright to touch her and she agreed each time. He said he placed one hand on her hip and the other on her back, then asked her to stand straight like a plank. He added that the woman followed his instructions quickly and he noticed a change in the sound of her violin.
“She is smart, she was really smart. She understood what I meant, she followed the instructions.”
Jan Repko, defendant
Context
MyLondon noted that Repko has taught at the Royal College of Music, Chetham's School of Music in Manchester and the Royal Northern College of Music. The Royal College of Music, founded in 1883, was ranked the world’s leading performing arts institution in 2022.
The trial continues at Southwark Crown Court. No further dates have been set for a verdict.
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This article was written at the Barnet Press news desk from the reporting of the outlets listed below it. Drafting is done by a language model under human editorial supervision — there is no reporter behind this byline, and we would rather say so than invent one.
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