STRATFORD PERVERT JOAQUIM PEREIRA SENTENCED TO 14 YEARS FOR CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE AND BLACKMAIL

In a case that has shocked the community of Stratford, Joaquim Pereira, a 52-year-old man, has been sentenced to a total of 14 years in prison following his conviction on multiple serious charges related to the sexual abuse of a young girl and subsequent blackmail. The sentencing was delivered at Warwick Crown Court after a lengthy legal process that included a second trial, as the first had to be discharged due to legal complications.

Judge Andrew Lockhart QC presided over the case and expressed his commendation for the remarkable dignity shown by the young victim and her family throughout the ordeal. The judge highlighted that their resilience in facing what he described as 'the most awful of experiences' was truly admirable, and he noted that the court could only marvel at their strength.

The prosecution, led by Gary Short, detailed the disturbing timeline of Pereira’s actions. It was revealed that Pereira, who was well-acquainted with the girl’s family, had sexually abused her when she was approximately 12 years old. The abuse included inappropriate touching and the taking of indecent photographs in which the girl was exposing herself. Some of these acts occurred in a lock-up garage owned by Pereira, and the abuse escalated over time to include sexual intercourse as the girl grew older.

Further allegations emerged when Pereira, last year, contacted the girl via email. He sent her a copy of one of the indecent images he had previously taken of her when she was younger. He then demanded additional sexually explicit photographs, threatening to reveal the images he already possessed to her family and friends if she refused. Despite her compliance, Pereira continued to harass her by sending a copy of a picture to her boyfriend, which ultimately led the girl to report the matter to the police.

During the trial, Pereira denied any sexual abuse or coercion, even going so far as to dismiss his legal team during his first trial, citing dissatisfaction with their representation. Following his conviction at the second trial, Pereira’s defense lawyer, Caroline Bray, stated that her client was unable to show remorse because he maintained his innocence.

In addition to the prison sentence, Judge Lockhart ordered Pereira to register as a sex offender for life and imposed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. This order prohibits him from contacting his victim or having any unsupervised contact with girls under the age of 16. The judge also commended the police officers involved in the investigation for their diligent work in bringing Pereira to justice.

Overall, this case underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement and the judicial system to protect vulnerable victims and hold offenders accountable for their heinous crimes in Stratford and beyond.