The ex-drummer for the heavy metal band Judas Priest reportedly wept in court today as a guilty verdict was read out, convicting him of the attempted rape of a special needs teen. David Holland, 55, had been giving the 17-year-old boy drumming lessons between June and December of 2002 at his home in England when the incidents occurred.
The boy, who suffers from learning disabilities, was encouraged to take the lessons by his parents who had that hoped time spent with Holland would improve their son’s self-esteem. Holland was found guilty of one charge of attempted rape and five counts of indecent assault by a jury at Northampton Crown Court in the UK. Spiros Laouitaris, 22, a frequent visitor at Holland’s home, was also accused of assaulting the teen.
Laouitaris has been cleared of four counts of indecent assault. According to the BBC, as the relationship between the teacher and pupil evolved the teen started to occasionally spend the night at Holland’s home. During the overnight stays, the former rocker allegedly allowed the boy to drink alcohol and smoke cigarettes. The parents of the teen finally caught wind of the assaults after they received a letter from their son on December 14, 2002 describing the abuse. The boy, who is now 18, cannot be named for legal reasons. According to BBC coverage of the trial during court proceedings, Holland denied that the relationship he had with the teen was in any way sexual.
In his testimony, Holland claimed that he had an “affectionate” relationship with the teen, that the boy often called him his “best friend” and told Holland that he “loved him” ” but that was it. A member of one of the most influential U.K. heavy-metal bands of the ˜70s and ˜80s, Holland played with Judas Priest from 1979 to 1989 when the band put out such anthems as “Screaming For Vengeance,” “Living After Midnight” and “Hell Bent For Leather.” Holland is currently awaiting sentencing. ”Karolina Rous
