September 2015 Litherland paedophile jailed for life after 21 years on the run Justice has finally caught up with a runaway Merseyside paedophile when he was jailed for life. Peter Hart, 70, originally from Litherland, fled the country 21 years ago using a false Irish passport after being charged with attacks on two young girls over an 11 year period. He voluntarily returned last year and denied the allegations but after a trial was today unanimously convicted and condemned by the judge who sentenced him. Hart, formerly of Heathfield Close, spent 10 years living in Northern Cyprus only moving on when a BBC Crime Watch programme featuring him appeared there. He then fled to Turkey and Bulgaria before ending up painting luxury yachts in Italy before returning to this country about 18 months ago and has since been in custody, during which time his wife died. Paedophile ran video shop and building suppliers Liverpool Crown Court heard that Hart, who ran various businesses including a video shop and building suppliers, had sometimes given the girls cannabis and amphetamine, shown them porn movies, sex manuals, used sex toys and filmed his abuse of them. Ben Jones prosecuting said he began raping one when she was nine years old and the other girl when she was 10 after giving her cannabis “to relax her.” On one occasion he dressed up in an elderly relative’s corset and made that victim dress in men’s clothing and engage in sexual activity. Bearded Hart, who sat impassively listening through a hearing loop system, gave evidence during the trial and judge Stephen Everett told him: “You clearly came across as the arrogant, aggressive and controlling individual. You are a devious, controlling and intimidating person – and you haven’t changed. “You are more like a robot without any feelings rather than a human being. “This was unremitting wickedness by you to satisfy your own lust. You completely and utterly ruined their lives. I see no shred of remorse in you.” Judge Everett said that Hart had his trial hoping that after all these years the jury might believe him and he “threw mud” from the witness box at his two victims, one of whom has died. Hart guilty of 17 offences But Hart was found guilty of a total of 17 offences involving rape, serious sexual assault, indecent assault, indecency and supplying cannabis and amphetamine. Judge Everett told Hart that he must serve a minimum of 10 years behind bars but warned him that he “may never be released” and ordered that his sentencing remarks are forwarded to the Parole Board who will eventually consider his release date. He said that he was imposing a minimum term of 10 years only because of Hart’s age, though he pointed out he did not accept his claims of “frailty”. The judge added: “There may not be a single person in this room who would shed a single tear if you were never released.” He pointed out that Hart was pulling a face while he was making his sentencing comments and the judge added: “You will never change I am quite sure of that. You will go to your grave complaining you were hard done by, when in reality you ruined the lives of many.” Judge Everett said the impact of his offending was “incalculable.” Hart was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life and at the request of the surviving victim made a restraining order banning him from ever contacting her.