FORMER SOMERSET COUNCIL LEADER FOUND GUILTY OF MULTIPLE SEX CHARGES
Richard Pallister, a formerly serving Royal Navy officer and the ex-leader of South Somerset District Council, has been convicted on 18 counts related to sexual offenses.The jury found him guilty after a court trial that lasted three weeks at Taunton Crown Court.
During the proceedings, it was revealed that Pallister exploited his influence and commanding presence to groom and sexually assault victims over a period stretching from 1987 to 2004, spanning nearly two decades.
He faced 33 allegations of historic sexual abuse involving four victims, including a woman and three minors, with ages as young as 13.
Of these charges, the jury acquitted him of 15.
Pallister, who served as council leader from 2011 until 2018 and worked as an air traffic controller at Yeovilton Royal Naval Air Station, denied all accusations.
The judge, Miss Jo Maryin QC, ordered that he be held in custody, noting that a prison sentence was 'inevitable' when sentencing occurs on September 24.
In his defense, Pallister described himself as 'a bit of a flirt and a tease.' He admitted to having an extramarital affair with one woman and to inappropriate contact with a teenage girl in a hot tub.
He expressed remorse, stating the affair was an 'adult relationship' of a 'straightforward physical' nature, although the girl involved said the encounter was not consensual.
Pallister also acknowledged touching a teenage girl repeatedly in a Jacuzzi but denied any grooming behavior.
He explained that he was naturally attracted to women and preferred their company over men, portraying himself as a flirt and tease.
Prosecutor Charles Row portrayed Pallister as a physically imposing figure who used his strong personality to impose himself on victims.
He depicted Pallister as a well-known community figure active in political, religious, and social roles, yet described him as overpowering and invasive in personal interactions.
Mr.
Row detailed how Pallister would often kiss victims on the lips, embrace them, and that such behavior was widely accepted among peers, though it concealed more sinister motives.
He argued that Pallister exploited his trusted community image to commit sexual offenses, intentionally seeking to manipulate and coerce victims through unwanted advances.
Detective DS Frank Glover emphasized that despite Pallister’s respected public image, he was a calculated offender who groomed and manipulated victims over many years, leaving lasting psychological scars.
Glover encouraged victims of sexual abuse to come forward, emphasizing that investigations can proceed regardless of when the offenses occurred.
He stressed the importance of speaking up and seeking support from police or specialized agencies.
