THORNABY PAEDOPHILE PETER MCMORROW SENTENCED TO 12 YEARS FOR ABUSE OF TEESSIDE SCHOOLGIRL

In a case that has shocked the community of Thornaby and the wider Teesside area, Peter McMorrow, aged 54, has been sentenced to a total of 12 years in prison after being found guilty of heinous sexual offenses against a young girl. The crimes took place over a period of time, during which McMorrow subjected the underage victim to two separate and deeply traumatic assaults, despite her repeated protests and clear refusals.

According to the prosecution, Matthew Bean, McMorrow approached the girl with false affection, telling her that he loved her and wanted to be with her. However, the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was only a child and was unaware of the implications of his words. The court heard how she initially resisted his advances, telling him “no” as he began to make sexual advances. Despite her protests, McMorrow proceeded to sexually assault and rape her, ignoring her pleas and attempts to stop him.

Mr. Bean described the distressing details of the first attack, emphasizing that the girl repeatedly told McMorrow not to proceed, but he insisted that she would enjoy it. After this initial assault, McMorrow warned her not to tell anyone, attempting to silence her out of fear of being caught. The abuse did not end there; on a subsequent occasion, McMorrow raped her again. During this second assault, he tried to kiss her and touched her inappropriately. The girl again tried to resist, pulling away and expressing her wish for the ordeal to end, but McMorrow ignored her pleas and, in a moment of anger, raped her once more.

It was only after many years that the girl found the courage to speak out and report the abuse to the police. Once authorities became aware of the allegations, McMorrow, who resided on Atlantic Crescent in Thornaby, took the step of turning himself in. He had confided in friends and family about his actions prior to his arrest. During the court proceedings, McMorrow pleaded guilty to two counts of rape, and it was noted that he had no previous convictions relevant to this case.

The pre-sentence report prepared by the authorities revealed that McMorrow employed grooming techniques to manipulate and create opportunities for his crimes. His defense, led by Duncan McReddie, acknowledged the gravity of his actions, stating that McMorrow fully understood and accepted the seriousness of what he had done. The defense also highlighted that McMorrow voluntarily went to the police and admitted his guilt when confronted.

McReddie expressed remorse on behalf of his client, emphasizing that McMorrow recognized the damage inflicted on the victim and that he was genuinely sorry. He also pointed out that McMorrow was aware of the need for treatment to address the underlying motivations behind his behavior.

Judge Moorhouse, presiding over the case, condemned McMorrow’s actions, underscoring the devastating impact on the victim. The judge stated that the trauma inflicted would likely leave lasting scars and that the victim’s suffering would continue into the future. In light of the severity of the crimes and their profound effect, the judge sentenced McMorrow to seven years for the first rape and an additional five years for the second, to be served consecutively. Furthermore, McMorrow was issued an indefinite sexual offences prevention order, which prohibits him from having unsupervised contact with anyone under 18. He will also be barred from working with children and will remain on the sex offenders’ register for life, ensuring ongoing monitoring and restrictions to protect the community from further harm.