A ROCK singer found guilty of holding a teenager against her will in a Bournemouth hotel room almost 40 years ago has been sentenced to 200 hours of community service.

Noel McCalla, who was then the lead singer with the group Moon and went on to perform with Manfred Mann’s Earth Band, had also been charged with the rape and sexual assault of the 19-year-old girl on June 17, 1976.

He was found not guilty of those charges.

Jurors found the 57-year-old, of Mayton Street in London, unanimously guilty of false imprisonment after a trial last month.

During the trial, prosecutors alleged that McCalla invited the young woman back to his hotel room for an “after-show party” following a musical performance in the town.

He admitted having sex with her – but denied rape and sexual assault.

Prosecuting, Sasha Wass said: “He apologised to her after she got dressed but said she couldn’t leave.

“He became violent to keep her in the room.” At Bournemouth Crown Court on Friday he was handed the community service sentence for the crime – which has been described as “absolutely terrible” by the victim, now aged 58 and living in Oxfordshire.

The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, fought for eight years to see the case brought before a court. She told the Echo: “I expected him to be sent to jail today.

“I am devastated by the result.”

She added: “I feel the last eight years of my life have absolutely been for nothing. There is no justice.”

She said she was motivated by wanting to change the way women were treated when it comes to historical crimes.

The victim added: “I would say to other women the police have only ever shown me complete compassion and belief – they have been wonderful to me.”

 

Manfred Mann vocalist
ROCK singer McCalla’s musical career began with the Black and White Notes, who eventually supported The Shadows.
   From there he joined the band called Moon.
After splitting from the band, he was a solo artist as well as collaborating with others.
In the 80s he performed with his own band, Contact, later called McCalla.
He first became involved with Manfred Mann in 1990 and was a main vocalist from 1991 to 2009.