Music teacher, who worked on film and TV projects, abused boys for more than 40 years

One of his victims, who cannot be identified for legal reasons and is using the pseudonym Edward, said Pickthall “would always have boys over to stay”. Edward, who was a secondary school pupil at the time, said: “He used to do this thing where he would essentially start playfighting and tickling but the tickling would then always involve what he used to refer to as a tickle spot which was basically him getting his hand down your trousers.” Edward, who is now aged in his late 30s, said Pickthall “would put pornography on to watch” and boys would be “plied with alcohol…drinking beer, drinking whisky, not a bit, a lot” when they stayed at his house. She said: “I do think he probably thought he was untouchable because the offences spanned more than four decades and he got away with it for that amount of time.” “I think that perhaps because he had the title of an MBE and had worked on some TV and film projects, perhaps he thought no-one would suspect someone such as him, would be capable of these crimes.” Ms Stamford said Pickthall had been “very composed” under interview, initially denying allegations and giving the impression he thought he’d walk free. “He hid behind this facade that he was a respectable individual.” She added: “I think this case is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of his offending and I don’t doubt there are more victims out there.” Eve George, mitigating, said Pickthall “did see the good sense in pleading guilty at the earliest opportunity”.