Baronet music teacher jailed for sexually abusing pupil has conviction quashed after court says victim's evidence was misleading

• Sir Peter Newson-Smith last May jailed for five-and-a-half years for assault
  
• Former pupil John Cartwright gave evidence against former head of music
  
• Claimed incidents occurred at boarding school Clayesmore Prep, Dorset
• Court of Appeal overturned ruling as Cartwright did not reveal he later planned to sue Sir Peter and the school for damages
  

By MAIL ON SUNDAY

Published: 17:02 EST, 18 January 2014 | Updated: 09:37 EST, 19 January 2014

A titled music teacher jailed for sexually abusing a ten-year-old pupil has had his conviction quashed.

Sir Peter Newson-Smith was found guilty last May of two charges of indecent assault while head of music at boarding school Clayesmore Prep, in Dorset, 30 years ago.

But the Court of Appeal has now ruled that the evidence given by his alleged victim, John Cartwright, now in his 40s, was misleading because he failed to disclose he planned to sue Sir Peter and the school for damages.

Overturned: Peter Newson Smith, right, has been freed from jail after six months of a five-and-a-half year sentence. The court ruled alleged victim, John Cartwright, left, did not reveal he planned to sue for damages

The original hearing was told that Sir Peter, the 3rd Baronet of Totteridge, lured the ‘vulnerable and isolated’ pupil into a cupboard on ten separate occasions before making him strip naked and molesting him.

Sir Peter, 66, who retired  from the £7,500-a-term school in 2003 after 24 years, served six months in prison.

He refused to comment.