PETER CURNOW FROM BARROW SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT ON YOUNG GIRL IN THE 1990S

In a case that has spanned over a decade, Peter Curnow, a 47-year-old man from Ainslie Street in Barrow, has been sentenced to nine months in prison for a sexual assault that occurred during the mid-1990s. The conviction followed the discovery of covert video footage at his residence, which provided crucial evidence linking him to the incident involving a teenage girl.

Details of the case emerged during a hearing at Preston Crown Court on Friday, where the prosecution, led by Miss June Morris, outlined the circumstances of the offence. The assault took place several years prior, specifically between May 1994 and May 1996, when the victim was a minor. Curnow, who previously worked as a caretaker for Community Action Furness and also at Arc, a furniture reclamation company located on Ironworks Road in Barrow, admitted to one count of indecent assault during an earlier hearing. The offence was characterized by the fact that the inappropriate touching occurred over clothing, and Curnow’s defence argued that it was a singular incident.

Throughout the proceedings, it was emphasized that Curnow had a clean criminal record prior to this offence. His background was thoroughly investigated, and authorities confirmed that there had been no recurrence of such behaviour. His legal representative, Mr. Brian Williams, stated that his client was of previous good character and that the incident was a one-off occurrence, occurring under specific circumstances that were unlikely to be repeated.

Judge Robert Brown, presiding over the case, made it clear that only a custodial sentence could be justified given the nature of the offence. Consequently, Curnow was sentenced to nine months in prison and was also ordered to register as a sex offender for a period of ten years. The court’s decision underscores the seriousness with which such offences are treated, regardless of the passage of time.

Further context was provided by PC Phil Dickinson of Barrow Police’s Child and Adult Protection Unit. He explained that authorities had been contacted by a woman who claimed to have been abused by Curnow in the 1990s when she was just 13 years old. The woman reported that Curnow had indecently touched her, prompting an investigation that led to his arrest. During the search of his home, police uncovered evidence directly linking him to the victim, including a covert video recording taken at the time of the incident, which depicted the girl in a compromising position. Curnow initially denied any wrongdoing during police interviews but later changed his plea to guilty in court, sparing the victim the trauma of giving evidence.

PC Dickinson urged any other potential victims, whether male or female, to come forward and assured the public that all allegations would be thoroughly investigated. His comments serve as a reminder that authorities remain committed to addressing and prosecuting sexual offences, regardless of when they occurred.