Darren Pitcher of Waltham Abbey Sentenced to 18 Years for Repeated Rapes of 11-Year-Old Girl
| Red Rose Database
Waltham Abbey Rapist
In a harrowing case that has shocked the community of Waltham Abbey, Darren Pitcher, aged 49, has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term of 18 years after being convicted of multiple heinous crimes involving an 11-year-old girl. The offenses spanned over a three-year period, during which Pitcher subjected the young girl to repeated sexual abuse, including five separate incidents of rape. The court heard that Pitcher, a scaffolder by profession, exploited the girl’s vulnerability and used threats of violence to maintain control over her, even threatening to kill her while she was asleep if she did not comply with his demands.
Judge Peter Griffiths QC delivered the sentence at Chelmsford Crown Court, emphasizing the devastating impact of Pitcher’s actions on the victim’s life. The judge stated, “She sets out the devastating effect of the abuse you perpetrated on her and the effect on her young life. She has been through overdoses, hospitalisation, depression. What you did, which was unforgiveable, is that you treated her as your sexual plaything, to do as you wanted with her.”
Throughout the trial, it was revealed that the victim had confided in various individuals over the years, including a friend, a nurse, and a former boyfriend, in 2005, 2009, and 2011, respectively. She explicitly identified Pitcher as her abuser during these disclosures. The court also learned that she had made two suicide attempts, highlighting the profound psychological scars left by the abuse.
Initially, Pitcher pleaded not guilty to four charges of rape, one of inciting a child into sexual activity, two of assault by penetration, and two of sexual assault. However, during the trial, on the second day, he changed his plea to guilty on a tenth charge involving sexual activity with a child, admitting that the girl had gyrated on his lap and touched his private parts. These offenses took place at a different residence in Waltham Abbey between 2004 and 2008.
During the proceedings, the jury, composed of seven women and five men, heard that Pitcher denied the allegations when confronted by police at his home, claiming, “I ain’t got nothing to do with this. She come on to me and I have not done anything. I am sick of people coming to my house and accusing me of rape.” Despite his denial, the jury found him guilty of most charges, with 11-1 verdicts on rape over the age of 13 and assault by penetration over 13, and unanimous verdicts on other charges.
Further complicating his criminal record, Pitcher had previously pleaded guilty in December 2014 to possessing an extreme pornographic image involving a person having intercourse with a dog. As part of his sentence, he has been ordered to register as a sex offender for life and is prohibited from spending time unsupervised with underage girls. The case has left a lasting scar on the community of Waltham Abbey, highlighting the importance of vigilance and support for victims of such grave abuse.
Judge Peter Griffiths QC delivered the sentence at Chelmsford Crown Court, emphasizing the devastating impact of Pitcher’s actions on the victim’s life. The judge stated, “She sets out the devastating effect of the abuse you perpetrated on her and the effect on her young life. She has been through overdoses, hospitalisation, depression. What you did, which was unforgiveable, is that you treated her as your sexual plaything, to do as you wanted with her.”
Throughout the trial, it was revealed that the victim had confided in various individuals over the years, including a friend, a nurse, and a former boyfriend, in 2005, 2009, and 2011, respectively. She explicitly identified Pitcher as her abuser during these disclosures. The court also learned that she had made two suicide attempts, highlighting the profound psychological scars left by the abuse.
Initially, Pitcher pleaded not guilty to four charges of rape, one of inciting a child into sexual activity, two of assault by penetration, and two of sexual assault. However, during the trial, on the second day, he changed his plea to guilty on a tenth charge involving sexual activity with a child, admitting that the girl had gyrated on his lap and touched his private parts. These offenses took place at a different residence in Waltham Abbey between 2004 and 2008.
During the proceedings, the jury, composed of seven women and five men, heard that Pitcher denied the allegations when confronted by police at his home, claiming, “I ain’t got nothing to do with this. She come on to me and I have not done anything. I am sick of people coming to my house and accusing me of rape.” Despite his denial, the jury found him guilty of most charges, with 11-1 verdicts on rape over the age of 13 and assault by penetration over 13, and unanimous verdicts on other charges.
Further complicating his criminal record, Pitcher had previously pleaded guilty in December 2014 to possessing an extreme pornographic image involving a person having intercourse with a dog. As part of his sentence, he has been ordered to register as a sex offender for life and is prohibited from spending time unsupervised with underage girls. The case has left a lasting scar on the community of Waltham Abbey, highlighting the importance of vigilance and support for victims of such grave abuse.