MARK PEEL FROM NOTTINGHAM JAILED FOR ABDUCTION OF 13-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN CORNWALL
In a case that has shocked the Nottingham community, Mark Peel, a 37-year-old man from Nottingham, has been sentenced to 21 months in prison after abducting a 13-year-old schoolgirl and taking her to Cornwall.The incident unfolded in late January when Peel and the young girl, who was supposed to spend the weekend at a friend’s house in Skegness, instead met up secretly.
According to prosecutor Phil Howes, the girl informed her mother that she planned to stay with a friend in Skegness, but she had other plans.
She met Peel, who then drove her to Cornwall, where they checked into accommodation in Bude under a false name provided by the girl.
The authorities believe that their intention was to stay in Cornwall for several weeks, but the girl’s mother became suspicious when her daughter failed to return home by Sunday.
Realizing something was amiss, the mother contacted the police.
Law enforcement officials tracked Peel and the girl and eventually arrested him.
Peel admitted to abducting the girl from her mother’s custody, but the situation took a further turn when Peel appeared at his initial sentencing hearing at Boston Magistrates Court.
During that hearing, the girl was present with him, having been dropped off at her secondary school in East Lincolnshire by her mother earlier that morning.
Security footage captured Peel and the girl holding hands and kissing outside the court, prompting security staff to intervene after being tipped off about their presence together.
The girl was then taken to a safe location.
In court, Peel, of Vernon Avenue, Old Basford, Nottingham, pleaded guilty to abducting the girl to Cornwall on January 28 and to a second charge of abduction on March 2, when she traveled with him again to Boston Magistrates.
During the proceedings, Peel’s defense lawyer, Stephen Clayton, argued that the girl had willingly gone with Peel, having previously asked him to be her boyfriend.
Peel accepted this but stated that they had agreed not to engage in sexual activity until her 16th birthday.
He also explained that his mental health had deteriorated due to a recent divorce, which led to depression and inappropriate thoughts.
Peel claimed that he felt lonely and isolated, and that if his marriage had not broken down, these offenses would not have occurred.
He emphasized that there was no sexual activity during the trip to Cornwall.
The second incident, which involved the girl traveling with Peel to Boston Magistrates, was motivated by her desire to speak up for him during his sentencing.
Judge Michael Heath addressed Peel directly, stating, “There is no evidence of sexual impropriety but it is clear there was an inappropriate relationship between you and there was some physical contact.
This girl, to some extent, did the chasing but she was 13 and you were 37.
You most clearly knew better than to do what you did and take her to Cornwall.” Overall, the case highlights the serious concerns surrounding the inappropriate relationship between Peel and the young girl, and the legal consequences he now faces for his actions in Nottingham and Cornwall.
