PETER GILBERT EXETER SEX OFFENDER SENTENCED FOR MULTIPLE ABUSE CASES

In a case that has shocked the community of Exeter, a man named Peter Gilbert has been sentenced to prison for a series of disturbing sexual offences involving a young girl. The incident, which spanned over a period of approximately twelve months, involved Gilbert repeatedly abusing the trust placed in him by a vulnerable child.

Peter Gilbert, aged 55 and residing on Farm Hill in the Exwick area of Exeter, appeared before Exeter Crown Court to face charges related to his misconduct. He pleaded guilty to four separate counts of sexually assaulting the young girl, with the court being informed that these offences occurred on four different occasions. The specific dates of these incidents are not publicly disclosed, as revealing them could potentially lead to the identification of the victim.

During the hearing, the prosecution, led by Malcolm Galloway, detailed how Gilbert admitted to touching the girl on four separate occasions, starting when she was just 10 years old. The court was told that these acts were committed over a period of time, highlighting the prolonged nature of the abuse and the breach of trust involved.

In response, Gilbert’s defense attorney, Richard Crabb, argued that the initial contact was innocent and that his client’s full admission of guilt demonstrated remorse. Crabb suggested that Gilbert should be spared from immediate custody and proposed that a treatment program aimed at addressing his offending behavior would be a more appropriate response than imprisonment.

However, the presiding judge, Stephen Wildblood, dismissed these arguments and emphasized that custody was the only suitable sentence given the circumstances. Gilbert was sentenced to six months in prison for each of the four charges, with all sentences to run concurrently. The judge also made it clear that Gilbert would need to serve at least half of his sentence before being considered for release, underscoring the seriousness of his actions.

Following the sentencing, Detective Constable Mark Uren, a member of the Exeter, East and Mid Devon sexual abuse team, expressed his support for the custodial sentence. He highlighted that the offences were aggravated by their duration and the fact that Gilbert had exploited a position of trust to commit these acts. DC Uren also noted that Gilbert had instructed the victim not to disclose the abuse to her parents, further emphasizing the manipulative nature of his conduct.

DC Uren stated that the victim’s family was relieved that Gilbert’s guilty plea had avoided the need for a lengthy and sensitive trial. They now wish to move past the traumatic events and focus on healing. The officer concluded by reaffirming the police’s stance that, despite Gilbert’s admission of guilt, his actions had caused significant harm to a vulnerable child who had placed considerable trust in him, and that justice had been served through the custodial sentence.