JOHN PIERCY FROM YORK BANNED AFTER SEXUAL ABUSE CASE INVOLVING YOUNG GIRL
In a significant legal development in York, a judge has taken decisive action to safeguard a young girl from potential future harm by issuing a comprehensive sexual offences prevention order (SOPO) against John Piercy, a man convicted of sexually abusing her.The case has garnered considerable attention due to the complex family dynamics and the apparent lack of support from the girl’s father, who has publicly refused to accept the conviction of his friend.
Judge Paul Hoffman, serving as the Recorder of York, made the ruling to prohibit John Piercy from having any contact with four young girls, including the victim, indefinitely.
This order was issued after the court heard compelling evidence that raised concerns about the girl’s safety, especially considering her father’s refusal to acknowledge Piercy’s guilt despite the jury’s verdict.
The judge expressed his deep concern over the situation, emphasizing the importance of protective measures when a parent, who is primarily responsible for a child's welfare, aligns with the convicted individual.
“It is very worrying from my point of view,” Judge Hoffman stated during the hearing.
“If the parent who is primarily responsible for a child’s welfare takes the side of, and stands with, the defendant, who has been convicted by the jury, who heard all the evidence and were not lying down drunk, as he was; if he won’t take any steps to protect the child, a sexual offences prevention order would help.” Witnesses testified last month that Piercy had sexually abused the girl in a bedroom while her father was reportedly in a drunken stupor downstairs.
The jury also heard the father give evidence in his own defense, claiming he could not remember his daughter informing him of the abuse.
This lack of acknowledgment has raised concerns about the father’s role in protecting his daughter.
To protect the girl’s identity, her father cannot be named publicly.
Meanwhile, John Piercy, aged 65 and a retired bricklayer from Byland Avenue, York, was convicted and sentenced to 18 months in prison after denying the charges.
Piercy was found guilty of three counts of sexual touching involving the girl.
In addition to the prison sentence, Piercy has been placed on the sex offenders’ register for ten years and has been disqualified from working with children.
The court’s decision reflects a broader effort to prevent any future harm and to monitor his activities closely.
During the trial, defense barrister Diane Nixon stated that there had been no contact between Piercy and the girl’s father since the trial concluded.
She also noted that Piercy had maintained a long-standing pattern of no improper contact with the girls until the night of the incident.
Piercy admitted that kissing children on the lips, including his own, was inappropriate, but he denied the more serious allegations of abuse for which he was convicted.
It was also revealed that Piercy and his wife had used approximately £12,000 of their savings on accommodation and a car while he was on bail.
Their home was located in Spain, and Piercy had remained in England to await his trial, which added financial strain to their situation.
The jury learned that the couple had retired to Spain but had traveled to England to address financial matters when the abuse occurred, adding further complexity to the case.
