PETER GALLAGHER FROM PENYGRAIG SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL OFFENSES INVOLVING TEENAGER IN MERTHYR TYDFIL
| Red Rose Database
Penygraig Child Sexual Abuser
In a case that has shocked the community of Penygraig and the wider Merthyr Tydfil area, Peter John Gallagher, aged 28, has been sentenced to three years in prison after admitting to engaging in sexual activities with a minor. Gallagher, who is married and a father of one, appeared at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court to face charges related to a series of inappropriate and illegal encounters with a 15-year-old girl, whose identity remains protected by law.
According to court proceedings, Gallagher committed four counts of sexual activity with a child between September 1, 2011, and December 31 of the same year. The court heard that the relationship began in a seemingly innocent manner but quickly escalated as Gallagher, who worked as a window fabricator, became infatuated with the young girl. The pair reportedly had sexual encounters more than forty times during their clandestine relationship.
Prosecutor Rachel Knight detailed that the young girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, initially kept her meetings with Gallagher secret, especially as she was preparing for her GCSE exams. However, Gallagherâs persistent pursuit did not cease even after she called off their secret meetings. At one point, he threatened to take his own life, a move that added to the distress and complexity of the case.
The court was told that the relationship took a darker turn as Gallagherâs marriage began to break down. It was during this period that he started to pursue the girl more aggressively. Court records reveal that Gallagher would take her out in his car, driving her to Rhigos mountain, where their first sexual encounter took place after she felt pressured into participating. The pair also engaged in sexual activity at Gallagherâs parentsâ home, further complicating the case.
Concerns were raised by the girlâs mother when she noticed Gallagher purchasing cigarettes for her daughter, which aroused suspicion. Initially, the girl did not disclose the full extent of their relationship, but her emotional distress eventually led her to confide in a friend, and later, she revealed everything to her mother.
During the court hearing, Ms. Knight explained that the relationship began to deteriorate when Gallagherâs marriage was falling apart. She recounted that Gallagher and the girl met up on Rhigos mountain, where he allegedly told her she would not have entered his car unless she intended to engage in sexual activity. The court heard that their sexual encounters included not only moments in the car but also in Gallagherâs parentsâ home, where full sexual intercourse took place.
Gallagher, who was present at the hearing, claimed during an interview that the relationship had become non-sexual, but this assertion was contradicted by evidence of their ongoing encounters. The prosecution highlighted that Gallagherâs persistent communication, including text messages, was a key factor in establishing the nature of their relationship. When she failed to respond to his messages, Gallagher confronted her, which marked a turning point in the case.
Defense lawyer Kieran Molloy, who stated that Gallagher had no previous criminal record, acknowledged his clientâs infatuation and expressed remorse. However, the judge, Richard Twomlow, emphasized the seriousness of the offenses, sentencing Gallagher to three years in prison. Additionally, Gallagher was ordered to register as a sex offender indefinitely, reflecting the gravity of his actions and the impact on the young victim and her family.
According to court proceedings, Gallagher committed four counts of sexual activity with a child between September 1, 2011, and December 31 of the same year. The court heard that the relationship began in a seemingly innocent manner but quickly escalated as Gallagher, who worked as a window fabricator, became infatuated with the young girl. The pair reportedly had sexual encounters more than forty times during their clandestine relationship.
Prosecutor Rachel Knight detailed that the young girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, initially kept her meetings with Gallagher secret, especially as she was preparing for her GCSE exams. However, Gallagherâs persistent pursuit did not cease even after she called off their secret meetings. At one point, he threatened to take his own life, a move that added to the distress and complexity of the case.
The court was told that the relationship took a darker turn as Gallagherâs marriage began to break down. It was during this period that he started to pursue the girl more aggressively. Court records reveal that Gallagher would take her out in his car, driving her to Rhigos mountain, where their first sexual encounter took place after she felt pressured into participating. The pair also engaged in sexual activity at Gallagherâs parentsâ home, further complicating the case.
Concerns were raised by the girlâs mother when she noticed Gallagher purchasing cigarettes for her daughter, which aroused suspicion. Initially, the girl did not disclose the full extent of their relationship, but her emotional distress eventually led her to confide in a friend, and later, she revealed everything to her mother.
During the court hearing, Ms. Knight explained that the relationship began to deteriorate when Gallagherâs marriage was falling apart. She recounted that Gallagher and the girl met up on Rhigos mountain, where he allegedly told her she would not have entered his car unless she intended to engage in sexual activity. The court heard that their sexual encounters included not only moments in the car but also in Gallagherâs parentsâ home, where full sexual intercourse took place.
Gallagher, who was present at the hearing, claimed during an interview that the relationship had become non-sexual, but this assertion was contradicted by evidence of their ongoing encounters. The prosecution highlighted that Gallagherâs persistent communication, including text messages, was a key factor in establishing the nature of their relationship. When she failed to respond to his messages, Gallagher confronted her, which marked a turning point in the case.
Defense lawyer Kieran Molloy, who stated that Gallagher had no previous criminal record, acknowledged his clientâs infatuation and expressed remorse. However, the judge, Richard Twomlow, emphasized the seriousness of the offenses, sentencing Gallagher to three years in prison. Additionally, Gallagher was ordered to register as a sex offender indefinitely, reflecting the gravity of his actions and the impact on the young victim and her family.