An internationally renowned concert pianist accused of fondling a girl, 15, whilst kissing her mother has denied that he sexually assaulted her.
Robin Zebaida, 49, a graduate of the Royal College of Music, who also has a diploma in physiology and massage, has told his trial that he did touch the woman's daughter to try and help her with her posture and back problems.
But the Oxford-educated pianist denies that he had any contact with the teenager as the three of them drunk alcohol at his flat and he was “french-kissing” her mother.
He said that he was “shocked” when allegations were made against him.
Mr Zebaida, who says he has had to turn down about £20,000 worth of work since the allegations, said the mother had been chasing him since meeting him as he performed on a Mediterranean cruise, twice sending him boxes of chocolates and phoning and emailing him.
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21 Nov 2013"Quite plainly she was interested in a relationship and I was trying to wind things down a bit," he told the court. "There was an emotional pressure that was a bit more than I wanted."
During their third date at the Imperial War Museum the mother asked him: "Is this going anywhere? Is this leading to a relationship or do you want a platonic friendship, I'm easy either way."
He said he failed to quell the her romantic interest by explaining he works abroad for long periods.
"She said that she was used to long absences and sort of daydreamed a bit about joining me on one of my trips to the Far East or a cruise, but I did not respond."
Mr Zebaida claimed he was "surprised" the mother then suggested they all drink alcohol at his flat.
"Her daughter then said she would like more vodka and spoke about alcoholic drinks and parties she had attended and was supported by her mother in this. I was a bit uneasy.
"However, I felt that if she thought it was OK and her mother thought it was OK then she could have another vodka."
He admitted to touching the daughter lightly on occasions, telling the jury: “At the museum she said she had a bit of a sore back and I just touched her and when she played the piano I suggested that she sat a little more straight and just touched her on the shoulder.”
She had issues with her back following the fatal car crash that claimed the lives of her father and brother.
But he maintained that he had not assaulted her, adding: "I just had my arm around the daughter and on a couple of occasions held her a little closer."
The prosecution allege that he plied the teenager with alcohol and fondling her on his coach while "smooching" with her mother as he had his arms around both of them.
He admitted kissing the girl's mother, who responded as all three sat together, but denied touching her daughter's hip and thigh and kissing her neck.
Speaking of the moment he heard to the allegations he told Isleworth Crown Court: "I was absolutely stunned, shocked and could not comprehend how this could have been made. It made no sense.”
Mr Zebaida, of St. John's Wood, north west London denies sexually assaulting the girl at his apartment on November 24, last year.
The three had sat in a similar fashion at his flat after the second date and the defendant explained: "There was a very strong sense of kinship, a very strong sense of friendship. A lovely sense of human bonding."
He told the court his arrest and prosecution forced him to decline work worth £15,000-£20,000 and damaged his ten-year successful working relationship with his agent.
Mr Zebaida, who also teaches music masterclasses around the world with the British Council is an examiner with the associated board of the Royal Schools of Music and says he has helped raised "tens of thousands of pounds" for charity.
The trial continues
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