Agent for Queen’s composer jailed over musician’s missing £500,000

Sir Peter Maxwell Davies left unable to compose after discovery gambler siphoned off huge sums

By Katie Hodge

Published:

LET DOWN: Orkney-based composer Sir Peter Maxwell Davies was shocked to find his agent had been taking his money for 16 years

The former agent for the Queen’s official composer was jailed for 18 months yesterday for siphoning off more than £500,000 of the musician’s money.

Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, who ranks among the world’s most eminent composers, was left so distressed by the discovery that money was missing that he was temporarily unable to compose.

Michael Arnold, 76, a self-confessed gambler, acted as Sir Peter’s agent for more than 30 years and was entrusted with handling the composer’s finances.

He began taking money from the musician in 1990 and his crime only came to light 16 years later when Sir Peter tried to withdraw money from a cash dispenser, only to find he had insufficient funds.

Arnold, who walks with a stick, pleaded guilty to false accounting involving £522,333 in September.

Passing sentence at Kingston Crown Court, London, Judge Nicholas Jones said he had taken Arnold’s age and “ill health” into account but added: “Clearly your false accounting was so serious that a considerable sentence is merited.”

Arnold sat with his head bowed as the sentence was handed down.

He was later assisted from the dock.

Earlier the court heard how Sir Peter lived a life of isolation in Orkney. He was “not a worldly man” and had given complete control of his bank accounts to Arnold, said Justin Cole, prosecuting.

“He was not interested in the material world and was more interested in his music,” Mr Cole added.

As agents, Arnold and his wife Judith, 73, never disclosed the full amount of Sir Peter’s real earnings, but the Queen’s composer should have been receiving “hundreds of thousands a year,” Mr Cole said.

Instead, he was given an annual allowance of £25,000.

Arnold’s lawyer told the court the missing money had been used to pay for his sick brother’s care and he had intended to pay it back.

The court heard how the Arnolds developed a close relationship with the musician, eventually becoming friends, but this was to fall apart in 2006 when Sir Peter found he was unable to withdraw £40 from a cash dispenser on Orkney. The composer realised immediately that something was wrong and informed his agent he would contact an accountant.

That prompted Arnold to draft a “partial confession” in a letter to the composer setting out his crime, Mr Cole said.

Arnold pleaded guilty on September 8 to false accounting between 1990 and 2006. A charge of stealing £447,000 from the composer made against the couple was dropped at an earlier stage.

Mrs Arnold, who was in court to support her husband, said the couple had been “devoted” to Sir Peter.

“The idea was to make life as easy as possible for him.,” she said.

Arnold’s solicitor, Laurence Lee, said he would be lodging an appeal against the 18-month sentence.

He said Arnold, of Barnet, London, had already repaid the money taken from Sir Peter.

“There are no winners in this case,” he added.

Sir Peter said: “I am delighted at the sentence. I wish I had never met Michael Arnold and I am glad he has been jailed.

“I went through some very difficult times because of him and I am glad it is now resolved and I can move on.”