The defence challenged the complainant’s honesty and suggested her continued contact with the rabbi could have been motivated by money. It also disputed her claim that the study door had been locked.
Prosecutor Stephen Wells argued that the woman’s account was truthful and questioned Halpern’s initial denial to police that he was the person heard in the recordings.
The allegations first became public after an investigation broadcast by Israel’s Channel 12 in 2022.
He was arrested by Met Police officers in March 2023 and charged the following year.
Halpern was arrested in 2013 over a separate sexual abuse allegation but was not charged.
He will be sentenced at the same court on 12 January.
The Met’s Det Con Joshua Dwyer, who led the investigation, said in a statement: “Halpern exploited the trust placed in him as a religious leader to sexually assault a woman who looked to him for guidance and counselling.
“This was a profound abuse of trust. I hope today’s conviction gives victims the confidence to come forward, knowing they will be listened to, supported and that we will always pursue the evidence wherever it leads.”
Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, external, X, external and Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to [email protected], external
