PETER LEE FROM HAVERHILL AND HEACHAM SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES IN IPSWICH

In a case that has shocked the communities of Haverhill and Heacham, Peter Lee, a 75-year-old man with ties to both locations, was sentenced to nine years in prison after being found guilty of a series of serious sexual offences committed over three decades ago. The sentencing took place at Ipswich Crown Court, where Judge David Goodin delivered a stern verdict, emphasizing the gravity of Lee’s actions by stating, “You robbed them of the innocence of their childhood.”

Lee, a former semi-professional footballer and publican, residing on Lords Lane, was convicted on Wednesday of 18 separate counts related to the sexual abuse of two young girls. These offences spanned a period of more than 30 years, and Lee had consistently denied all allegations brought against him. The court proceedings revealed that Lee had been due for sentencing earlier in the month but was hospitalized after passing out due to high blood pressure, which temporarily delayed the process.

The jury found Lee guilty of 12 counts of indecent assault involving a girl under the age of 16, along with six counts of gross indecency with a girl under 16. The trial, which lasted six days, included testimonies from two women who recounted their experiences of abuse while they were young girls. Both women claimed that Lee, during his tenure as landlord of the Woolpack public house in Haverhill, had repeatedly subjected them to physical and sexual abuse. They described incidents where Lee touched them over and inside their underwear and coerced them into touching him indecently.

Prosecutor Charles Myatt characterized Lee as a “Jekyll and Hyde” figure, highlighting the stark contrast between his public persona and his private conduct. Myatt explained, “He had a public front as the life and soul of any situation, everyone got on with him, but behind the scenes he was a physical and sexual bully.” One of the women testified that Lee had physically and sexually abused her, asserting that she could no longer see him as a respectable member of society. She recounted a specific incident where she believed Lee was attempting to rape her but stopped when she heard someone approaching. Both women admitted that, at the time, they were too frightened to disclose what had happened, although one later sought counseling. After sharing their experiences and discussing them with each other, they decided to report Lee to the police, leading to his arrest in January.

Throughout the trial, Lee maintained his innocence, claiming he could not understand why the women had made such allegations. He stated, “None of it is true.” His defense argued that, despite his previous convictions—including a six-month prison sentence for fraud—none of his past convictions involved sexual misconduct. However, the court found the evidence compelling enough to convict him of the 12 counts of indecent assault and six counts of gross indecency.

Judge Goodin condemned Lee’s actions as “monstrous,” emphasizing that Lee exploited his position of authority and his dominant personality to prevent the victims from revealing the abuse at the time. In addition to his prison sentence, Lee was ordered to register as a sex offender indefinitely and is prohibited from being alone with girls under the age of 16. The court’s verdict underscores the serious nature of his crimes and the lasting impact on the victims, who now seek justice after decades of silence.