ZACH PEPOLE FROM HIGHBRIDGE SENTENCED FOR PERVERTED CRIMES INVOLVING TEENAGE GIRLS IN SOMERSET

In April 2022, a disturbing case emerged involving Zach Peploe, a 21-year-old resident of Highbridge, Somerset, who was found guilty of engaging in a series of sexual offenses against underage girls. The allegations detailed a pattern of predatory behavior that spanned several months and involved multiple victims, all of whom were between the ages of 12 and 14.

Peploe targeted five young girls through various social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat. His tactics involved sending explicit videos of himself, often sexualized in nature, to the girls in an attempt to manipulate and exploit them. He also engaged in inappropriate conversations, calling some of the victims beautiful and expressing love for them, which furthered his grooming efforts. The court heard that his actions culminated in physical encounters, with some taking place at his residence and others in his car.

The emotional and psychological toll on the victims was profound. Several of the girls reported suffering from flashbacks, anxiety, and difficulty trusting men following their interactions with Peploe. One girl resorted to self-harm, while another attempted to overdose, highlighting the severe trauma inflicted by his actions. The court was told that Peploe’s behavior demonstrated a clear lack of remorse, as indicated in a probation report presented during sentencing.

Peploe, who resides on Huntspill Road in Highbridge, pleaded guilty to nine separate offenses involving the five victims. These included engaging in sexual activity with a child, causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, and other related crimes. One particularly disturbing incident involved him groping a 14-year-old girl’s breasts after she fell asleep in his car. Another victim, aged just 12, was sent videos of Peploe masturbating. Prosecutor Ms. Nikki Coombe described how Peploe begged a young girl for naked pictures on Instagram, called her beautiful, and sent her sexually explicit messages, which she said made her feel sick.

One of the victims, distressed and overwhelmed, confided in her teacher that she had engaged in sexual activity with Peploe when she was 14, claiming she felt pressured into doing so. Despite his arrest and police investigation, Peploe continued his offending behavior, targeting additional girls. He engaged in sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old girl at his home, with her stating she felt too frightened to refuse. When she revealed her age, Peploe responded with a casual “cool” and boasted about his sexual experiences. He also had sexual encounters with two other girls aged 13 and 14.

During a police search of his phone, authorities discovered that Peploe had been contacting hundreds of girls each month on Facebook, attempting to initiate conversations and exploit them. The severity of his actions led Judge Paul Cook to impose strict legal measures. Peploe was sentenced to three years and ten months in prison. Additionally, he was subjected to a 10-year sexual offences behavior order, which restricts his contact with victims and aims to manage his risk once he is released back into the community. He is also required to sign the sex offender register indefinitely, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities.