PETER PRICE, ALLERTON PAEDOPHILE, SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE NEAR BRADFORD AND EPWORTH

In April 2021, the harrowing stories of two women who endured years of sexual abuse at the hands of Peter Price, a man from Allerton, near Bradford, came to light during a court hearing. These women, now adults, bravely recounted their traumatic experiences, which have left indelible scars on their lives.

Peter Price, aged 77, residing on Leyside Drive in Allerton, was employed at the Trolleybus Museum near Epworth at the time of the abuse. It was at this location that he met two young girls, aged between six and eight, who would become his victims. Shockingly, Price was not new to allegations of a sexual nature; he was already on bail for previous offences involving children. Despite receiving a suspended sentence, he continued his predatory behavior, grooming and sexually assaulting the young girls, forcing them to perform sexual acts upon him.

Price eventually pleaded guilty to these offences, which occurred between 2002 and 2004. Prosecutor David Bradshaw addressed the court, emphasizing the breach of trust involved in the case. He explained that Price owned and maintained a trolleybus at the museum, where he also restored it. The court was told that concern was initially raised when Price was seen applying suncream to the girls, but no formal complaints of sexual misconduct were made at that time. The police only became aware of the allegations in 2018, following a complaint from one of the girls' mothers. Subsequent interviews in 2019 revealed consistent accounts from both victims.

One of the victims, now a woman, delivered a deeply emotional victim impact statement. She described feeling different during her childhood, experiencing a sense of not belonging. She recounted how she grew up trying to please others, feeling her innocence was stripped away, and believing her sexualized behavior was normal. She expressed ongoing feelings of shame and blame, questioning why she was targeted and describing the abuse as a persistent demon inside her. Her words reflected the long-lasting psychological damage inflicted by Price’s actions.

The second victim, who recently gave birth to her first child, shared how her past abuse intensified her feelings of vulnerability. She described the pain and shame associated with her experiences, emphasizing the difficulty in coming to terms with the trauma. She explained that Price’s grooming had led her to perceive their relationship as one of happiness and love, which was, in reality, abuse. The recent birth of her daughter brought back traumatic memories, making her feel exposed and vulnerable. She expressed her anger and frustration that such abuse was allowed to happen and called for justice to prevent Price from harming others again.

Judge Peter Kelson QC described Price as a “predator” and sentenced him to nine years in prison. The judge highlighted that Price was on bail and under investigation for other offences when he committed these crimes, underscoring the severity of his actions. He stated, “You were a sexual predator under investigation and facing proceedings when you committed these offences against these children, and that is paedophilia.” The judge further noted the profound impact on the victims, citing their personal statements as evidence of the damage caused.

In addition to the custodial sentence, Price was subjected to a sexual harm prevention order, aimed at protecting the public from further offending. The court’s decision reflects the seriousness with which the justice system views such violations of trust and the enduring harm inflicted upon victims by predators like Peter Price.