DAMIEN PEARSON SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ABUSE IN WHITBY AND WINNING

In January 2019, a disturbing case of sexual abuse involving Damien Pearson, a 27-year-old man from Esh Winning, Durham, came to light through a court trial held at York Crown Court. The incident centered around a young girl from Whitby, who endured a traumatic experience at a property in her hometown, where Pearson committed acts of sexual assault and took explicit photographs of her in a state of undress.

According to court proceedings, the victim, whose identity remains protected for legal reasons, initially believed that what happened was merely a bad dream. She recounted to the court that she had pretended to be asleep during the assault, which involved Pearson pulling her clothes up and down, and taking dozens of photographs of her naked body. The girl described the moment vividly, noting that Pearson used a camera flash while capturing images, and she remained motionless, frozen with fear, during the ordeal.

The court heard that Pearson, who was employed as a general assistant at a well-known hotel in Whitby, immediately began viewing the photographs of the girl on his mobile device after the assault. The following morning, the girl was visibly distressed but did not initially disclose what had happened. Instead, she later confided in her parents through a handwritten note, revealing the abuse.

Police were alerted the day after the incident, on May 16, when officers seized Pearson’s mobile phone. Forensic analysis, however, revealed a disturbing attempt to erase evidence: Pearson had restored his phone to factory settings, which resulted in the complete removal of all photos and data, including the explicit images of the girl. Prosecutors argued that this act was deliberate, aimed at destroying evidence once Pearson became aware of the allegations against him.

During the trial, the victim also claimed that Pearson had sexually assaulted her on two previous occasions. Pearson, who is a father of one, denied all allegations, maintaining his innocence throughout the proceedings. The jury, after deliberation, found him guilty of one count of sexual assault and one count of taking indecent images of a minor. They acquitted him of two other counts of sexual assault by penetration, which the victim had also alleged had occurred previously.

Judge Simon Hickey sentenced Pearson to 15 months in prison. Additionally, he was ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for a period of ten years. Following the sentencing, the girl’s father expressed his gratitude, stating, “We are thankful to the police, judge, jury, and prosecutor for getting our daughter the justice she deserves.”