Brian May’s driver cleared of child abuse

A chauffeur to the stars was cleared of ‘disgusting’ allegations of sexual abuse today after his rock legend boss Brian May gave evidence for him.

Phillip Webb, 59, has worked for the Queen guitarist and his wife, former EastEnders star Anita Dobson, for more than 20 years.

Webb had been accused of plying a girl with alcohol and hallucinogenic drugs during sexual abuse that began when she was was seven.

He was also said to have involved another child in the abuse.

Webb vehemently denied the allegations and had told jurors at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court: ‘It really is disgusting to think that anybody could do that to any child.

‘It’s the worst allegation that a person could make against a human being.

‘I have never touched anybody inappropriately.’

The complainant had reported the alleged abuse to children’s mental health services in 2006, but claimed she didn’t go into detail because she was ‘terrified’ of police involvement.

She made full allegations to police in 2019 after opening up about her memories in therapy, the court heard.

But after deliberating for five hours and two minutes the jury cleared Webb of two counts of causing a girl to engage in sex, two of causing a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity, four of administering a drug with intent to commit indictable gross indecency with a child under 16 and six counts of indecent assault against a girl under 14.

He was said to have involved another child in the alleged abuse, which is claimed to have taken place between 1999 and 2006, but was cleared of all charges.

Webb boasted to police that his other clients included the Japanese Embassy, the Imperial Royal Family, the Prime Minister and pop pranksters Madness.

He had become a chauffeur after leaving a career as a manager at Smithfield Meat Market in 2001.

Last week his boss May, 73, wearing a black coat with the collar turned up over a white open-collared shirt, told the court: ‘For a man like Phil, who’s incredibly upright and decent to be accused of terrible sexual misconduct, it’s like his whole soul has been torn out.’

‘He’s been my driver for more than 20 years.

‘Normally he will work between three and seven days a week. He’s probably my longest serving employee, or one of the longest.

‘I know Phil incredibly well, because in 20 years of being driven around by him.

‘A lot of time, it’s me and him in the car and we share so much.

‘I know what’s inside him, his innermost secrets.

‘I will not exaggerate, he’s one of the most honest men I have ever met in my life.

‘His honesty for me is impeccable.

‘Some people bend the truth, Phil will not, he’ll say “no I f–ked up” – that’s the way he talks.

‘He’ll say ‘“It’s my responsibility, I’m really sorry, it’ll never happen again”.

‘He will never ever, in the slightest, be untruthful. He will not hide the truth.

May added: ‘I have very seldom met anyone close to that degree of honesty.

‘I have never seen him lift a finger against anyone. He’s actually the closest to a gentle giant.

‘He has an extraordinary passion for fair play and justice.

‘He acts for me as a kind of security guard in a restrained way.

‘He’s actually highly trained to do that.’

Anita Dobson, 71, described Webb as her ‘protector’ and her ‘knight in shining armour’ that her family relied on.

‘He’s been in our employ for over 20 years, he’s our driver, chauffeur,’ she said from the witness stand, wearing her hair in a bun and a black suit.

‘Without him I think we would grind to a halt.

‘On holiday, he looks after my step-children, without him I don’t know what I would do.

‘He has been a protector for me, every week, two or three times a week, sometimes more, sometimes less.

‘He’s one of the most kind, generous, and overall honourable men you would ever wish to meet and I’m very proud to call him my friend.

‘I adore him.

‘He’s the kindest man you would ever meet, he’s my knight in shining armour.’

Webb had told jurors how armed police pulled him over while driving the rock legend on the M25, suspecting a firearm was in the car.

He called the Met to complain but was stopped a second time after dropping off Ms Dobson.

Webb accepted that he had a conviction for assaulting his ex-wife’s new partner with a key in 2003.

‘I do lose my temper,’ he admitted.

But Webb denied prosecutor Richard Milne’s suggestion that he has a ‘dark side’ or having any violence at home or road rage incidents.

He is also a petty officer in the Sea Cadets, the court heard.

Webb, of Epsom, Surrey, denied and was cleared of indecently assaulting a child, two counts of causing a child to engage in sexual activity and one count of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child.