ANDREW PEARSON SENTENCED IN HARTLEPOOL FOR HISTORIC SEXUAL ABUSE CASES

In a case that has spanned decades, Andrew Pearson, a man from Hartlepool, was sentenced to nine years in prison after being convicted of serious sexual offenses committed against a young girl in the 1990s. The court heard harrowing details of the abuse, which only came to light many years later, when the victim, now an adult, reported the incidents to the police.

Andrew Lee Pearson, now 40 years old, appeared before Teesside Crown Court to face charges related to his past actions. During the proceedings, Pearson attempted to justify his behavior by attributing it to his drug addiction at the time, asserting that he had since turned his life around. In his own words, he stated, “It shouldn’t have happened, and it did, and it was all round drugs. I know I’m going to get jail today but it was all drugs back then, nothing more.”

Prosecutor Ian Mullarkey detailed the disturbing nature of Pearson’s crimes, revealing that he repeatedly raped and sexually assaulted the girl, who was a minor at the time. The assaults occurred during the 1990s when Pearson was living in the Middlesbrough area. The court was told that Pearson first took advantage of the girl when she was intoxicated, and despite her protests and her expressed unwillingness, he continued to have sexual contact with her. The victim, who chose to remain anonymous, was coerced into submission largely because Pearson was significantly larger than her, a factor that contributed to her feeling powerless to resist.

The case only surfaced many years later, when the victim, now an adult, confided in the police about her traumatic experiences. Pearson, who resided on Sandringham Road in Hartlepool at the time of his arrest, denied two counts of rape and two counts of indecent assault. However, after a trial, the jury found him guilty on all charges.

It was noted that Pearson had a criminal record that included various offenses such as burglary and wounding, although he had no similar convictions since 2006. His history of criminal activity was considered during sentencing, but the focus was on his recent conduct and the impact of his past actions.

Defense lawyer Brian Russell argued that Pearson had made significant efforts to reform his life, emphasizing that he had successfully changed over the past five years and had become a family man. Russell expressed regret that the long delay in bringing the case to court had added a layer of tragedy to the situation. He highlighted positive references from Pearson’s partner and employer, portraying him as a different person from the “unsavoury character” he was in the 1990s.

Judge Tony Briggs acknowledged Pearson’s troubled past, describing him as “an irresponsible drug-addicted young man” at the time of the offenses. However, the judge also recognized the substantial changes Pearson had made in recent years. Ultimately, the court sentenced him to nine years in prison, reflecting the severity of his crimes and the need for justice for the victim.