COLIN PERKS FROM ORMESBY SENTENCED AFTER SEXUAL ASSAULT IN TEESSIDE

In December 2018, a disturbing incident unfolded in the town of Middlesbrough, specifically within the residential area of Ormesby, where a teenage girl was subjected to a distressing sexual assault by Colin Perks. The incident left the young victim deeply traumatized and fearful of venturing out alone in her daily life.

According to court proceedings, Perks, aged 49 and residing on Trentham Avenue in Ormesby, engaged in inappropriate and criminal behavior towards the girl, which included touching her inappropriately and making lewd comments. The prosecutor, Laurie Scott, detailed how the girl initially felt uncomfortable as Perks began to touch her body. Despite her discomfort, Perks reportedly laughed and joked, attempting to dismiss the seriousness of his actions by claiming it was merely a game. However, his actions escalated as he touched her breast and private parts, causing her significant distress.

The girl, whose identity remains protected by law, struggled to free herself from Perks’s grip as he grabbed her wrist and tightened his hold. Ms. Scott emphasized that the girl felt powerless to resist, describing the situation as frightening and overwhelming. During the assault, Perks exposed himself to her and coerced her into touching him before he ceased his inappropriate conduct. The prosecutor noted that it appeared Perks suddenly seemed to realize the gravity of his actions, apologizing and stating, “I’m sorry. This won’t continue any further.”

Following the assault, the girl confided in a friend and her mother about what had happened. Acting on her concerns, she reported the incident to the police, leading to Perks’s voluntary surrender. Despite his protests of innocence, Perks denied the charges, claiming that the girl had fabricated the allegations and asserting that nothing had occurred. He was charged with three counts of sexual assault relating to events that took place on September 30 of the previous year.

Perks’s trial at Teesside Crown Court concluded with a jury convicting him on all counts. During the trial, he maintained his innocence, but the evidence presented was compelling enough to secure a conviction. In a personal statement read in court, the young girl expressed her ongoing emotional suffering, stating, “What happened to me has made me frightened to go out alone. I worry every day about bumping into him. I worry all the time about seeing him. I have to close all the curtains, lock all the doors and stay in my room. I feel on edge and anxious. I worry that something else bad will happen. I don’t understand why he did what he did.”

She also described the court process as stressful and frightening, questioning why Perks chose to put her through such a ordeal instead of simply admitting his guilt. Her words reflected the profound impact the incident had on her mental health and sense of safety.

Judge Simon Bourne-Arton QC, the Recorder of Middlesbrough, addressed Perks directly, expressing his bewilderment at the defendant’s actions. The judge remarked, “I have no idea what possessed you to do that which you did on this night. You apologized to her immediately. Then you went back on that and had a trial. Had you continued to apologise and pleaded guilty, the sentence would have been different.”

Ultimately, Colin Perks was sentenced to two and a half years in prison. Additionally, he was subjected to a restraining order prohibiting him from approaching the victim or entering a specific road in Ormesby. He was also ordered to register as a sex offender for the next ten years, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his conduct and preventing further harm to the victim or others in the community.