PETER WIGLEY FROM LICHFIELD SENTENCED FOR DOUBLE RAPE IN COBRIDGE AND LICHFIELD

In a case that has shocked the local communities, Peter Wigley, a 23-year-old man originally from Lichfield and now residing in Cobridge, has been sentenced to a total of five years and four months in prison for the heinous crime of repeatedly raping a 12-year-old girl. The incident took place during Halloween last year, a night when children and families typically celebrate and enjoy festivities, but unfortunately, this event was marred by Wigley's criminal actions.

According to court proceedings, Wigley encountered the young girl and her 10-year-old friend in the city centre of Lichfield after a chance meeting while they were out trick-or-treating. The children were out collecting candy and raising money for their Halloween costumes, unaware of the danger that lurked nearby. Stafford Crown Court heard that Wigley approached them and offered to give them a lift, which he did, driving around with the girls before taking them back to his flat. The prosecutor, Michael Conry, detailed that the girl was already under the influence of alcohol at an early stage of the encounter.

Conry explained that Wigley picked up the girls in Lichfield and then drove around with them, eventually bringing them to his residence. Once there, the girl was still drinking, and it was evident that she was very intoxicated. Wigley then took her into a room within his flat, where he committed indecent assaults and forced her to perform a sex act. The court was told that he assaulted her again in a similar manner. Following the assault, the girl was taken to hospital for medical examination. During her interview, her memory of the events was limited, likely due to her intoxication.

When Wigley was arrested, he admitted to picking up the girls and acknowledged that they had stopped at a shop to buy alcohol. However, he claimed that he was unaware of the girl’s true age, believing her to be around 15 or 16 years old. In his own words during police interviews, Wigley stated, “I did not want to have full-blown sex with her because the ten-year-old girl was coming in,” and added that the girl wanted to have full sex with him but he refused. He also claimed that if he had known she was only 12, he would not have engaged in such conduct.

Wigley pleaded guilty to two charges of oral rape and two counts of sexual assault. As part of his sentence, he was ordered to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life and was banned from working with children. His defense lawyer, Sally Hancox, argued that Wigley did not force the girl but did coerce her, attempting to mitigate his culpability.

Judge Paul Glenn addressed Wigley directly, acknowledging his guilty pleas but emphasizing the severity of the crime. He pointed out that the victim was only 12 years old and was clearly intoxicated at the time of the assault. The judge also highlighted that medical reports indicated Wigley posed a high risk of reoffending. The judge remarked that the incident was a chance meeting that Wigley exploited for his own benefit, underscoring the gravity of the offense and the need for a strong custodial sentence.