RICHARD PENTREATH AND HILARY THOMAS ARRESTED IN BISHOP’S CLEEVE AFTER POLICE HUNT FOR CHILD SEX OFFENDER
| Red Rose Database
Bishop’s Cleeve Rapist
In a significant development in the ongoing efforts to bring justice for victims of child abuse, Richard Pentreath, also known by the alias Hilary Thomas, was located and apprehended in Bishop’s Cleeve, Gloucestershire, following an extensive police operation. The arrest marks the culmination of a lengthy investigation into a series of heinous crimes committed over several decades.
Richard Pentreath, aged 63, was wanted by authorities for failing to appear at his sentencing hearing after being convicted in his absence of multiple serious offenses. The charges included 13 counts of rape and indecent assault against minors aged between nine and 15 years old. These crimes spanned a period from 1975 to 1992 and were committed in various locations, including Greenwich in London and Coventry. The conviction was the result of a trial where Pentreath was absent, prompting police to launch a dedicated search for him.
The investigation was initiated in 2013 after one of Pentreath’s victims came forward to police, revealing details of the abuse she endured as a child. Her testimony prompted authorities to reach out to two other victims, leading to a broader understanding of the extent of Pentreath’s crimes. The court heard during the trial that the offenses involved two girls and a boy, all of whom were between nine and 15 years old at the time of the abuse.
On the morning of the arrest, officers from Gloucestershire worked in collaboration with detectives from the Metropolitan Police’s Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command. The operation was carried out in Gloucester, where Pentreath was located and taken into custody. His failure to attend the scheduled court proceedings at Woolwich Crown Court on October 4, 2016, had previously delayed sentencing, but the police’s efforts finally resulted in his apprehension.
Further investigations revealed that Pentreath had connections to other areas, including Cheltenham in Gloucestershire and parts of Cornwall. Additionally, authorities in North Wales sought to speak with him regarding an arson incident at an address in Prestatyn, which occurred in the early hours of October 6. During that incident, Pentreath attempted to set fire to the home of his alleged victim, but he mistakenly targeted the wrong address. This act of arson was part of a broader pattern of behavior, as Pentreath was also convicted of arson with intent to endanger life and attempting to take revenge, which resulted in a 35-year prison sentence.
In total, Pentreath’s criminal record reflects a disturbing history of abuse, violence, and attempts at revenge, highlighting the severity of his offenses and the importance of ongoing police efforts to protect vulnerable individuals and bring offenders to justice.
Richard Pentreath, aged 63, was wanted by authorities for failing to appear at his sentencing hearing after being convicted in his absence of multiple serious offenses. The charges included 13 counts of rape and indecent assault against minors aged between nine and 15 years old. These crimes spanned a period from 1975 to 1992 and were committed in various locations, including Greenwich in London and Coventry. The conviction was the result of a trial where Pentreath was absent, prompting police to launch a dedicated search for him.
The investigation was initiated in 2013 after one of Pentreath’s victims came forward to police, revealing details of the abuse she endured as a child. Her testimony prompted authorities to reach out to two other victims, leading to a broader understanding of the extent of Pentreath’s crimes. The court heard during the trial that the offenses involved two girls and a boy, all of whom were between nine and 15 years old at the time of the abuse.
On the morning of the arrest, officers from Gloucestershire worked in collaboration with detectives from the Metropolitan Police’s Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command. The operation was carried out in Gloucester, where Pentreath was located and taken into custody. His failure to attend the scheduled court proceedings at Woolwich Crown Court on October 4, 2016, had previously delayed sentencing, but the police’s efforts finally resulted in his apprehension.
Further investigations revealed that Pentreath had connections to other areas, including Cheltenham in Gloucestershire and parts of Cornwall. Additionally, authorities in North Wales sought to speak with him regarding an arson incident at an address in Prestatyn, which occurred in the early hours of October 6. During that incident, Pentreath attempted to set fire to the home of his alleged victim, but he mistakenly targeted the wrong address. This act of arson was part of a broader pattern of behavior, as Pentreath was also convicted of arson with intent to endanger life and attempting to take revenge, which resulted in a 35-year prison sentence.
In total, Pentreath’s criminal record reflects a disturbing history of abuse, violence, and attempts at revenge, highlighting the severity of his offenses and the importance of ongoing police efforts to protect vulnerable individuals and bring offenders to justice.