Febuary 2007

Man raped young girl

A child abuser who raped and sexually assaulted a young girl has been jailed for seven years and banned from contacting children indefinitely.

Christopher Pearcy, 45, admitted two charges of rape and one of indecent assault, all against an underage girl who cannot be named for legal reasons.

First, he stroked and touched her in a sexual way – acts which made her physically sick, prosecutor Christopher Attwooll told Teesside Crown Court. Then he had sex with her. “Afterwards he acted as if nothing had happened,” Mr Attwooll said yesterday.

Pearcy repeatedly told the girl not to tell of what he did. The court heard she confided in school friends, who tried to persuade her to tell an adult.

But the girl was reluctant to inform the police, and they were not brought in even after she told her mother and a psychologist of the abuse.

Officers were contacted following an allegation from someone else, with which Pearcy was not charged.

Pearcy, of Varo Terrace, Stockton, was of previous good character.

Paul Cleasby, defending, said the girl, now a 25-year-old mum, only wanted Pearcy to admit guilt.

“Christopher Pearcy showed a degree of courage by admitting to what he’d done. Although his motivation is blurred, perhaps it makes him more susceptible to successful treatment than would otherwise be the case.

“The defendant can be treated for his deviancy. He says he is willing to engage in any course the prison think he’s suitable for.

“I am instructed to apologise to her on behalf of Christopher Pearcy. He expresses deep regret for the way in which he treated her.”

Mr Cleasby added Pearcy was assessed as a “low risk” of re-offending, and no violence was used in the offences.

Judge Peter Armstrong said this was little help for the victim. “To her credit she is comforted to some extent by your admissions, your guilty pleas and hopefully she will be able to move on in her life.”

He passed an indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order banning Pearcy from associating, contacting or having intentional telephone, text or Internet contact with under-18s, and from contacting the victim and another named girl.

He also banned Pearcy from working with under-18s.