A FOUNDER of an internationally known brass band has denied abusing five boys in his band.Derek Cable, 63, of Edgecombe Road, Stowmarket, was giving evidence at Norwich Crown court yesterday.

A FOUNDER of an internationally known brass band has denied abusing five boys in his band.

Derek Cable, 63, of Edgecombe Road, Stowmarket, was giving evidence at Norwich Crown court yesterday.

In police interviews read to the court by the officer in the case, Det Con John Gidney, Cable claimed the offences never occurred. He also denied allegations that he gave the young boys alcohol.

He agreed boys had stayed at his home but that nothing "improper" had ever occurred.

He also said: "They say I paid them to do these things. I did nothing of the sort."

He denied ever paying one boy £5 to touch him.

Giving his evidence he said he worked seven days a week with his various bands and pupils.

The band had been to the United States and on trips throughout Europe and he said he resigned as music teacher at Stowmarket school in 1984 and became a "freelance".

"I had spent 21 years there and decided to move on", he told the court.

Cable has denied 21 offences of indecent assault and indecency with children in the 1970s and 1980s. He founded the Stowmarket Schools concert band in 1961 and was its musical director and conductor.

Asked about teaching his pupils "breathing techniques" which involved putting his hands on their diaphragms he said that was how it was done in the 1970s but he agreed he had seen a document dated October 2001 which suggests it should not be done like that now.

He denied ever telling a boy not to wear his clothes in the house.

He denied ever interfering with any of the boys and added: "Why would I do anything like that? I would not want to throw away what I had achieved."

The trail continues.