GEORGE PERRRYMAN'S SHOCKING SEXUAL ABUSE IN LYDNEY AND GLOUCESTERSHIRE REVEALED

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the communities of Lydney and Gloucester, Geoffrey Perryman, an 88-year-old man, has been convicted and sentenced for a series of heinous sexual offenses committed decades ago. Perryman, who once held positions of trust as a teacher and outdoor pursuits leader, was found guilty of abusing multiple young boys during the 1960s and 1970s, with his crimes only coming to light after years of silence and delayed justice.

According to court records, Perryman was employed as a music and sports teacher at Exmouth Community College, a position that allowed him significant access to vulnerable children. He also managed the college’s outdoor pursuits centre near Kingsbridge, where he exploited his authority to target boys aged between 11 and 14. The abuse took place in various settings, including Perryman’s office and Huccombe House near Beesands, where he would make victims share beds with him. Witnesses and victims recounted that Perryman sometimes joined boys in the showers after lessons, further crossing boundaries of appropriate conduct.

Many of Perryman’s victims, who were known as his “playmates,” faced bullying and social exclusion from their peers, partly due to Perryman’s influence and the secret nature of his misconduct. The court heard that Perryman’s position of authority and the fear of repercussions prevented most victims from speaking out at the time. Only one victim’s parents were informed, but their concerns were dismissed, allowing Perryman’s abuse to continue unchecked for years.

In his recent trial at Exeter Crown Court, Judge David Evans sentenced Perryman to four years and four months in prison. The judge emphasized the severity of Perryman’s actions, stating, “Your culpability was very high, and so was your abuse of trust. These were some of the worst forms of abuse possible. You used the victims for your temporary sexual gratification but caused permanent emotional and psychological damage which was to blight their family and lives for decades to come. It has taken a long time for justice to be served.”

It was also revealed that Perryman had previously been jailed for two years and eight months at Gloucester Crown Court in February of the previous year for similar offenses involving four other boys. His earlier conviction involved charges of gross indecency and indecent assault, with the court imposing a sexual harm prevention order and placing him on the sex offenders register. At that time, Perryman was 86 years old and was scheduled for release in just 17 days, but the new sentencing means he will remain incarcerated at Ashfield Prison, where he appeared via video link.

Prosecutor Bathsheba Cassel stated that all five victims contacted the police after reading about Perryman’s 2018 conviction in the local press, which ultimately led to his recent prosecution. The case highlights the long-lasting impact of abuse and the importance of justice, even many years after the crimes occurred, shedding light on the dark history of a man who exploited his trusted roles in the community of Lydney and beyond.