COLIN WRIGHT'S HORRIFIC CHILD MOLESTATION IN PETERLEE AND SEAHAM LEADS TO 15-MONTH JAIL SENTENCE

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the communities of Peterlee and Seaham, Colin Wright, aged 39, was sentenced to 15 months in prison at Teesside Crown Court for a series of heinous sexual offences committed against young girls over two decades ago. The court heard that Wright's predatory behavior began more than 25 years prior to his arrest, targeting vulnerable children and subjecting them to severe psychological trauma.

One of his victims, a young girl, endured a horrifying ordeal that included oral sex and other forms of indecency. Prosecutor Adrian Dent revealed that Wright had threatened her, warning that if she disclosed his abuse, she would be sent away to some sort of approved school, a tactic often used by predators to silence their victims. The emotional scars inflicted on this girl persisted into her adult life, manifesting as depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and significant difficulties in forming and maintaining relationships, including a failed marriage.

In addition to the abuse of the first girl, Wright also assaulted a second young girl. His acts included kissing her, pulling down her clothing, and performing indecent acts. The second victim, distressed and frightened, begged him to stop. Despite her pleas, Wright only ceased his actions after warning her that other people would be harmed if she told anyone about what had happened. The court was informed that these offences were committed many years earlier, but Wright was not apprehended until late 1998.

During police interviews, Wright denied all allegations. However, when the case was brought before the court, he pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent assault. His defense lawyer, Jamie Hill, who previously resided at undisclosed addresses in Peterlee and Seaham before moving to a Sunderland bail hostel, argued that Wright’s offending had ceased shortly after he turned twenty.

Hill emphasized that Wright had led a relatively productive and industrious life since then and was capable of abstaining from such behavior. He requested that the court consider placing Wright on a sex offenders treatment program rather than imposing a lengthy prison sentence.

Judge Bryant, acknowledging the gravity of the crimes, stated that Wright would have to serve time in prison. Nonetheless, he spared Wright from a more extended sentence, citing the fact that Wright’s guilty pleas had spared his victims the ordeal of giving evidence in court. The judge also ordered Wright to be registered as a sex offender for ten years, reflecting the seriousness of his crimes and the need for ongoing monitoring.