A MAN who as a young boy shared a bedroom with Derek Cable denied the music teacher showed any inappropriate sexual behaviour towards him.Jonathan Martin, 56, a musician and former pupil of Cable, shared a room when he was 11 with the music teacher over a three to six month period after Cable had decided to become a freelancer.

A MAN who as a young boy shared a bedroom with Derek Cable denied the music teacher showed any inappropriate sexual behaviour towards him.

Jonathan Martin, 56, a musician and former pupil of Cable, shared a room when he was 11 with the music teacher over a three to six month period after Cable had decided to become a freelancer.

Cable, 63, of Edgecombe Road, Stowmarket, has denied abusing five boys in his band.

He appeared before Norwich Crown Court where he denied 21 offences of indecent assault and indecency with children, over 13 years between 1970 and 1983.

Cable founded the internationally-known Stowmarket Schools Concert Band in 1961 and was its musical director and conductor.

Married Martin, who has three children of his own, described Cable as "a great inspiration" and Cable didn't show any behaviour of a sexual nature towards him.

"I always did feel comfortable in his company," he said. "Even though we were sleeping in the same bedroom there was always that teacher and pupil relationship."

He said Cable, who taught him piano and singing, moved into his house because his brother had joined the Navy so there was a spare bed and Cable had nowhere to go.

Martin said his parents had no trouble trusting him and were keen that Cable could continue with his music lessons.

He said: "His honesty and integrity was first rate, 100 per cent. I would be happy for my two grandsons to learn with him now."

Cable left their house when he took on a job at Lavenham in 1960 as a supply teacher for West Suffolk County Council. Martin said it was not until the 1990s he knew Cable was a homosexual, after it came out in conversation.

Also giving evidence today was Eric Mauser, who managed a coach company in Suffolk and used to accompany Cable on trips all over the world between 1973 to 1986.

He said the band went on up to 25 trips abroad and around 100 UK trips and Mauser would act as transport manager, coach driver and chaperone.

He took to the stand where he denied any inappropriate behaviour from Cable towards band members and instead praised his character, saying: "His energy and dedication into making the band the best in Europe at the time was paramount. That energy reflected in a number of men and women who left the band and made successful careers in music."

Mauser said when he had visited Cable's home he had never seen any naturist magazines at the property.

The trial continues.