PILLAR OF THE COMMUNITY IN JAIL FOR CAMPAIGN OF SEXUAL ASSAULT
A volunteer for charities and his local church who has been described as a pillar of the community and of "impeccable character" subjected a young man to sexual assaults.A sentencing hearing at Truro Crown Court today (Thursday, November 27) heard how David Pengelly repeatedly sexually assaulted him and also filmed him in a sexual way without his victim's consent.
On one occasion he even broke into his victim's house and sexually assaulted him while he slept.
A jury found Pengelly, 65, of The Warren, Polperro, guilty by a majority verdict after trial of several charges of sexual assault on a male and one of voyeurism.
In a powerful impact statement, which Pengelly's victim bravely read out in court, he described the devastating physical, emotional and psychological impact the assaults had on him, leading him to contemplate suicide and forcing him and his family to move out of the area.
He told the court how he suffers from severe post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of the sexual assaults he suffered and feels "disgust", "contempt" as well as a sense of "betrayal" towards Pengelly.
He continued to suffer from anxiety and panic attacks years after the offences, with reliving the events during court proves to be a ordeal.
"My life has been totally shattered by the behaviour of a sexual predator," he said.
"My purpose in life has become obsolete.
I live in a constant state of anxiety and depression.
It has been draining." He added that the trauma will stay with him forever and that he would not be alive today without the support of his family.
Pengelly's defence described him as a man of good character who has led a "sad and lonely life" and "lacks worldly experience." Judge Simon Carr described the case as a sad and depressing instance where a young man's life and his family's — who moved to Cornwall for a better future — were turned upside down.
He stated, "This has had a devastating impact on this young man's life and it will be lifelong." Addressing Pengelly, the judge said, "You were a man of impeccable good character but you lost that good character.
You did a lot of good in your life and it is tragic that it ended in this way because you couldn't control your urges.
This case is so serious that only a custodial sentence is appropriate." Pengelly was sentenced to five years in prison, to serve two-thirds before release on license, and will be on the sex offenders' register for life.
