Jan Latham-Koenig: Music conductor admits child sex offences
A world-renowned classical music conductor has pleaded guilty to two child sex offences.
Jan Latham-Koenig admitted arranging sex acts with someone he thought was a teenager - but was in fact an undercover police officer.
The 70-year-old, of South Kensington, was granted conditional bail at Westminster Magistrates' Court.
Latham-Koenig was appointed OBE in 2020 for services to music and UK-Russian cultural relations.
He conducted the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, and all the BBC ensembles.
Latham-Koenig pleaded guilty to intentionally arranging or facilitating an act of sexual activity with a child, between 9 December and 11 January.
He also admitted attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child for the purpose of sexual gratification, between the same dates.
Latham-Koenig entered no plea to a third charge of attempting to meet a person under the age of 16 and engage in sexual activity during or after the meeting.
Prosecuting, Jason Seetal told the court that Latham-Koenig initially started chatting with an undercover officer, who was posing as a child, through a dating app before progressing to WhatsApp.
The officer was working as part of an investigation by detectives from the Metropolitan Police's Specialist Crime Command.
Mr Seetal said a meeting between Latham-Koenig and the "child" had been due to take place at a coffee shop in Victoria railway station. He was arrested there last month.
In relation to the contested charge, District Judge John Law set a plea and trial preparation hearing at Southwark Crown Court for 22 March.
Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected]