I WAS GROOMED, RABBI TELLS COURT

A RABBI has spoken of being groomed as a child by a former Chabad Lubavitch teacher, who is on trial for historic sexual offences, saying it “left an indelible mark on my mind”.

Daniel Golomb, 46, faces 14 counts of indecent assault against four different boys aged between five and 12 years old, over the period 1992 to 1997.

The charges relate to wiping the boys in intimate areas, penetrating them with a body part; pressing his genitals against one of them; and touching the genitals of another.

Giving evidence at Manchester Crown Court last week, the 33-year-old rabbi recalled Mr Golomb pressing himself against his backside when he was aged between ten and 11 years old.

Mr Golomb, who was clothed at the time, had asked to inspect the child after he used the bathroom at a Charedi school in Manchester.

He said: “I felt it was somewhat strange. But as a young child, I didn’t question. I didn’t think to question.”

He also told the court he had a “very close relationship” with Mr Golomb, who would “spend long amounts of time talking to me” on topics including prohibitions against masturbation under Jewish law.

He also stayed overnight at the teacher’s home on at least one occasion, when Mr Golomb dried his naked body with a towel after a bath or a shower.

The jury also heard that on May 24 2017, Mr Golomb telephoned the rabbi to ask for forgiveness for “what had happened in the past”.

The victim said: “I was going out with my wife when I received a phone call. I picked it up and Daniel Golomb was on the phone.

“He said he was a changed person, and asked if I could find it in my heart to forgive him. I said something along the lines of ‘I was sexually abused’.

“If he could assure me he was having therapy or some way of dealing with things he had done then perhaps I could think about it.

“He wouldn’t confirm he was undergoing any such therapy.”

Defence counsel Sarah Elliott QC claimed the witness omitted the allegation that Mr Golomb pressed his organ against him in his official statement submitted to the court, despite consulting two solicitors, two barristers and three rabbis.

She suggested the witness “just put it in this morning to make things worse for Mr Golomb”.

The victim argued that it was an “error”, citing the “trauma” of submitting the statement and giving evidence.

He said: “For two Jews to be in court against each other is not something anybody wants to see. Generally, the community is close-knit, and people look out for each other.”

The victim said that after seeing Mr Golomb in public as an adult, he felt “repulsed and revolted”, telling his family he no longer wishes to have contact with the former teacher.

Another alleged victim, now aged 32, told the jury that Mr Golomb penetrated him with a body part on a series of occasions.

The two other alleged victims gave evidence earlier in the trial.

The trial continues.

As a young child, I didn’t think to question