Buddhist monk Maitreya, who ran Pure Land meditation centre and Japanese garden at his home in North Clifton, Newark, jailed for sex offences against children
A Buddhist monk has been jailed for two years for indecently assaulting two girls after winning the trust of their families.
Koji Takeuchi, who calls himself Buddha Maitreya, pleaded guilty to three counts of sexually abusing the two girls who were about 12 years old at the time of the attacks.
Anthony Waller, prosecuting at Hove Crown Court, said Takeuchi had won the trust of a Brighton couple in 1972 or 1973 before abusing their daughter at her home. She is now in her sixties.
He later taught meditation and yoga in Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire and opened the Pure Land meditation centre and Japanese garden at his home, in Trent Lane, North Clifton.
The site is a popular tourist attraction, drawing thousands of visitors a year, including coach loads of schoolchildren.
It featured in an episode of the TV series Britain’s Best Back Gardens, presented by Alan Titchmarsh, in 2015.
Again, he befriended a couple before abusing their daughter in 1986 or 1987, the court was told. She is now in her forties.
Takeuchi had admitted that he indecently assaulted them, as reported in the Brighton and Hove News.
Mr Waller said Takeuchi had travelled around the country, teaching meditation and staying with families.
For some years he was known as Zengo – and at times he was a familiar sight on his motorcycle, referred to by some as the Buddhist on a bike.
One victim, from Brighton, said: “You used your robes, your status as a monk and your role and power to get what you wanted.
“I cannot forgive that you are claiming to be a Buddhist monk when you are against everything Buddhism stands for.
“I am angry that you could take advantage of my body. I am angry that you sexually abused a child. How many other women have you attacked? Lives have been ruined because of you.”
Judge Jeremy Gold said: “Those families looked to you for spiritual guidance and you repaid them by carrying out the horrific abuse of young girls.”
The offences came to light after press reports of a separate case when Takeuchi, 82, was jailed for similar offences two years ago.
On that occasion, Takeuchi was jailed for sexually abusing a girl from the age of three until she was nine in her Brighton home between 1975 and 1981.
Takeuchi would have been eligible to be considered for parole next month.
