Ballet star who used ‘fame’ to sexually assault students is jailed

AN English National Ballet dancer who “took advantage of fame” to abuse young students and showed “no remorse” has been jailed for nine years.

Yat-sen Chang, 50, sexually assaulted four young female students during massages at London dance schools between 2009 and 2016.

Chang inappropriately touched his victims, aged between 16 and 19 at the time, at the English National Ballet and Young Dancers Academy, where a dance studio was named after him.

The Cuban joined the English National Ballet in 1993 and was a principal dancer at the company until 2011, performing in productions including The Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty.

Yesterday, he was jailed for nine years after being found guilty of 12 counts of sexual assault and one count of assault by penetration following a trial earlier this year.

Judge Edward Connell, at Isleworth Crown Court, told Chang: “You took advantage of your fame and position of trust” to engage in “grooming-type behaviour” and carry out the attacks “for your own sexual gratification”.

He added: “Over a period of years you used your fame and prestige in the ballet world to abuse young women who were your students. You became emboldened when the young women did not report your conduct.

“Your offending has had a profound impact on all your victims and you have demonstrated no remorse for your appalling behaviour.”

During the trial, prosecutor Joel Smith said the “internationally renowned” ballet dancer was “both famous and revered” by young dancers and students of ballet.

He told jurors Chang “used his position” to commit sexual offences against young students in his care.

In a victim impact statement read out in court, one woman told how she still feels “violated” and “humiliated”.

Chang was found not guilty of one count of assault by penetration.