Jan Latham-Koenig: Music conductor admits child sex offences

EPA Jan Latham-KoenigEPA
Jan Latham-Koenig pleaded guilty to two 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.

Presentational grey line

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]