PETER ESHERWOOD SENTENCED IN NORFOLK FOR HISTORIC SEX OFFENCES AGAINST CHILDREN
A man from Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, has been handed a lengthy prison sentence after being convicted of multiple historic sexual offences committed against three young girls.Peter Esherwood, aged 66 and residing on Harfreys Road in Great Yarmouth, appeared before Norwich Crown Court on 12 July 2024 to face justice for his crimes.
The court sentenced him to a total of 18 years in custody, with 16 years to be served behind bars and an additional two years on licence, reflecting the severity and gravity of his offences.
Esherwood was charged with four counts of indecent assault, two counts of gross indecency with a child, one count of sexual assault of a child, and one count of inciting a child to participate in sexual activity.
He also faced a charge of failing to surrender to authorities.
Initially, he entered a plea of not guilty but later changed his plea to guilty during the sentencing proceedings, acknowledging his guilt for the crimes committed.
The court was informed that the allegations came to light in September 2017 when a woman disclosed to another adult that she had been sexually abused by Esherwood during her childhood.
This disclosure prompted police involvement and an investigation into the allegations.
As a result, two additional victims came forward, revealing that they had also been sexually abused by Esherwood when they were young girls.
The offences spanned a period from the late 1980s through to the early 2000s, involving three female victims.
Detective Sergeant Ricki Peake, speaking outside the court, explained that Esherwood was tried and convicted in his absence.
This was because he had sold his house, liquidated his assets, and fled to Thailand after being charged with the offences while on bail awaiting trial in October 2022.
The investigation involved cooperation between Norfolk police, the Crown Prosecution Service, Interpol, and Thai authorities.
Esherwood was eventually located and arrested upon re-entering the UK at Heathrow Airport in April 2024.
He was subsequently remanded in custody ahead of his sentencing.
During the court proceedings, victim impact statements were read aloud, revealing the profound and lasting effects of Esherwood’s actions.
One victim described suffering from panic attacks and depression, which led to the loss of her career, and expressed her anguish by stating, “I will never forgive him for what he put me and my family through.” Another victim shared that she was physically and mentally exhausted, experiencing panic attacks and memory blackouts related to her childhood abuse.
The third victim conveyed her shattered innocence and destroyed self-confidence, expressing a hope for peace in her future despite the trauma she endured, saying, “My innocence was shattered.
My self-confidence annihilated.
I know that I will never be able to escape my experiences, but I live in the hope, no, the belief, that one day I will find peace.” Detective Sergeant Ricki Peake emphasized the bravery of the victims in coming forward and providing evidence, acknowledging the distress involved in revisiting such traumatic events.
He expressed hope that the sentencing would serve as a measure of justice for the victims and a step towards acknowledging their suffering.
The case highlights the importance of perseverance in seeking justice for survivors of historic abuse, and the cooperation between international law enforcement agencies played a crucial role in bringing Esherwood to account for his crimes.
