Somerset Church Organist Denies 'Seven Years of Sex Abuse' Claim

Western Daily Press
March 7, 2012

http://www.thisissomerset.co.uk/Somerset-church-organist-denies-seven-years-sex/story-15420676-detail/story.html

Nigel Parkin arrives at Taunton Crown Court, where he denied all charges

A church organist carried out a sickening catalogue of sex abuse on two young girls – brushing up against one as he gave her piano lessons, a jury heard yesterday.

Married Nigel Parkin, 56, allegedly befriended the youngsters before sexually assaulting them – warning them they would not be believed if they revealed his actions.

The musician is accused of brushing up against one 11-year-old during piano lessons, then groping her chest.

He then moved his attentions on to a younger girl, aged nine, sexually touching her and raping her on more than ten occasions until she was 16, prosecutors claim.

Parkin appeared at Taunton Crown Court for the second day of his trial yesterday, where he denies 17 charges – including rape, indecent assaults and sexual assaults.

Sarah Regan, prosecuting, told the jury Parkin carried out the attacks in his Land Rover and at the former home he shared with his wife in Somerset.

She said: "The defendant, sexually assaulted two girls.

"He started with one, touching her breasts and putting ice cubes down her top and on another occasion he touched her under her clothing.

"He then moved on to the other girl. This was far more serious abuse. She said she was raped on ten occasions and indecently assaulted on about another ten occasions."

Parkin, who played the organ at St Andrews' Church in Wiveliscombe, Somerset, is charged with two counts of indecent assault against his first victim.

He is alleged to have abused her from when she was 11, in 1998, until she was 13.

The court was told he frequently abused his second victim, now 19, though she kept the attacks a secret until she was 17, in 2010, when she confided to her headmaster after he gained her trust.

In a police interview, played to the court, the girl said the attacks had driven her to selfharm and attempt suicide.

The girl told a police officer how she desperately tried to escape Parkin's clutches but was overpowered every time.

She sobbed: "I was just scared and so ashamed.

"I was trying to move, to get him off me but he put my arms behind my back. I couldn't move."

Parkin also stands accused of eight counts of rape without consent against the girl, who was just nine at the time of the first named incident, in 2002.

He is said to have continued raping her on at least ten occasions until she was 16, in 2009.

It is also claimed that Parkin subjected the girl to three indecent assaults and four sexual assaults.

Parkin was arrested after the younger victim reported he had punched her and the other girl told officers he had touched her chest.

The former community radio presenter denies all charges against him and claims the girls suffered from "mental health problems" and had invented the abuse.

The trial continues.