STEPHEN PEACOCK FROM MIDDLESBROUGH SENTENCED TO NINE YEARS FOR CHILD SEX OFFENSES

In a case that has shocked the community of Middlesbrough, Stephen George Peacock has been sentenced to nine years in prison after being found guilty of multiple serious sexual offenses involving young girls. The crimes, which took place in the late 1980s and early 1990s, involved two victims who were aged between 12 and 15 at the time of the abuse.

Peacock, now 46 years old and residing on Derby Avenue in the Whinney Banks area of Middlesbrough, admitted to four counts of rape, two charges of indecency with a child, and two counts of indecent assault. These offenses were committed during his twenties, and he was taken into custody last year after the allegations came to light. The court heard that Peacock had shown a disturbing pattern of grooming and manipulating the victims before subjecting them to sexual abuse.

During the sentencing at Teesside Crown Court, Judge Michael Cartlidge expressed his admiration for the bravery of the victims, emphasizing that their willingness to come forward and speak about their traumatic experiences was commendable, especially given the difficulty of reliving such ordeals. The judge stated, "He has effectively stolen the childhood from these girls and the impact of what he's done goes on."

Judge Cartlidge detailed how Peacock initially showed an inappropriate interest in the girls, grooming them before the abuse. He highlighted a particularly egregious comment made by Peacock to one of the victims, telling her, 'You enjoy this,' a statement the judge firmly rejected, asserting, "She very definitely did not enjoy it."

Throughout the proceedings, Peacock's defense argued that he has changed significantly since the time of the offenses. His lawyer, Adrian Dent, expressed remorse on his behalf, stating that Peacock now finds it difficult to comprehend how he could have believed his conduct was justified. Dent emphasized Peacock's profound regret and his acknowledgment that his actions were unforgivable. The defense also highlighted that Peacock is genuinely sorry for the harm caused and has not repeated such conduct since.

In mitigation, Dent noted that Peacock was in constant fear of violence from fellow inmates during his time in custody, had suffered from violence himself, and had experienced significant personal hardship, including losing four and a half stones in weight and being separated from his supportive partner. He also pointed out that Peacock's decision to surrender to police spared his victims the trauma of testifying in court and that he is willing to participate in rehabilitation programs.

As part of his sentence, Peacock was ordered to be banned from working with children and was issued a lifelong sexual offences prevention order. This order prohibits him from contacting individuals under 16 or entering premises where children are present without proper supervision. Additionally, Peacock will remain on the sex offenders' register for life. It is noteworthy that he had no previous convictions prior to these offenses, making this case particularly disturbing for the Middlesbrough community.