PRESTON PARIS LEICESTER CHILD RAPIST SENTENCED FOR DECADE-LONG ABUSE
In October 2020, a disturbing case of child sexual abuse came to light involving Preston Paris, a 50-year-old American national residing in Leicester.Paris, who had moved to the UK in 2001 and lived on Tarragon Road, off Western Boulevard, Bede Island, Leicester, was found guilty of a series of heinous crimes committed over a span of ten years against two vulnerable young girls.
Paris's predatory behavior began shortly after his arrival in the UK, as he systematically groomed his victims from a young age.
His abuse extended from their childhood into their adolescence, with one victim being raped repeatedly from the age of just eight, and the other starting at age 12.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) detailed that Paris employed a range of manipulative tactics, including violence, threats, emotional abuse, and further rapes, to maintain control over his victims.
The case was brought to a head when one of the victims finally reported the abuse in 2017.
This disclosure prompted the second victim to come forward, revealing her own experiences of abuse at Paris's hands.
The trial at Leicester Crown Court concluded on a Monday, with Paris being convicted of 15 separate offences.
These included indecent assault, sexual activity with a child, sexual intercourse with a girl under 13, and five counts of rape.
Following the verdict, Paris was sentenced on the subsequent Friday.
The judge, Ebrahim Mooncey, handed down a total prison term that effectively amounts to 24 years, with sentences of 10, 23, and 24 years to run concurrently.
This means Paris will be required to serve at least two-thirds of his sentence before he becomes eligible for parole.
During the sentencing, the judge emphasized the severity of Paris's actions and the lasting impact on his victims.
A CPS spokesperson highlighted that Paris's abuse was characterized by repeated rapes and the use of threats to silence his victims.
The judge described one victim as having called Paris 'manipulative, nasty and evil,' words that he said encapsulated the nature of his character.
The victims' statements painted a grim picture of their suffering, with one describing her life as being 'hell' and expressing the belief that she would never fully recover from the trauma.
The other victim also expressed difficulty in rebuilding her life after the abuse.
Judge Mooncey acknowledged that both victims only felt able to report the abuse later in life, after enduring years of suffering in silence.
He condemned Paris's arrogance and lack of remorse, noting that during his trial, Paris lied repeatedly and even filmed some of the sexual acts, threatening to release the recordings if the victims reported him.
The judge stated that the totality of Paris's offending had to be considered in sentencing, given the prolific nature of his crimes, which prevented prosecutors from charging him for each individual act.
In conclusion, the judge expressed hope that, with time and support, the victims might find some measure of peace and healing from their ordeal, which was marked by manipulation, violence, and betrayal.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impact of child sexual abuse and the importance of justice for victims.
