PETER BURNS FROM ALRESFORD SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS FOR SEXUAL ASSAULTS AND RAPE IN WINCHESTER

In August 2014, a man from Alresford named Peter Burns was sentenced to a lengthy prison term of 15 years after being convicted of multiple serious sexual offenses. The court heard that Burns had committed a series of heinous acts involving a young girl, whom he had assaulted in various locations within the town of Alresford, including inside his vehicle and in a shed. The victim, whose identity remains protected for legal reasons, endured a traumatic ordeal that left her emotionally scarred and contemplating self-harm.

Burns, who was 47 years old at the time and formerly resided on Windsor Road in Alresford, faced a jury at Winchester Crown Court. The jury reached a verdict of guilty by a majority of 11-1 on two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. Additionally, they found him guilty by a 10-2 majority of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. However, Burns was acquitted of three other sexual assault charges brought against him.

Judge Keith Cutler, the Recorder of Winchester, presided over the case and announced that Burns would be placed on the sex offenders register for life. During sentencing, the judge delivered a stark condemnation of Burns’ actions, stating, “You were able to target her and develop your sexual interest in her. You enjoyed the power that gave you. You did not have any concerns about what that was doing to her; she was just an object of your lust.”

Judge Cutler further explained that the victim was left feeling trapped, to the extent that she contemplated suicide and self-harm, feeling helpless and unsure of where to turn. The court reviewed the victim’s testimony, some of which was presented via video link, in which she described her feelings of powerlessness. She recounted, “I felt powerless, there was nothing I could do,” and described how she would close her eyes and pretend to be somewhere else during the assaults. She also revealed that Burns threatened her, warning that if she was loud, it would cause her pain, and if she did not cooperate, it would be even worse. The victim described the ordeal as never-ending, with Burns telling her she was not allowed to say no, and that it was a dangerous secret she had to live with.

Burns, in his defense, claimed that the sexual encounters were consensual and only occurred after the girl had turned 16. He stated, “I did not threaten her or tie her up. I regret the affair. We both said it shouldn’t happen but it did happen.” However, the victim, a young girl at the time, testified that she had wept throughout Burns’ attacks, which had left her feeling depressed and suicidal. She described her fear and anxiety, saying, “I was scared, I didn’t want to sleep at night. It would drive me to the brink of insanity.”

In the final incident, when Burns shackled her, she said she called him a monster, cried, and begged him to stop, expressing her hatred for him. Despite her pleas, Burns appeared indifferent, telling her, “it didn’t matter, you can hate me as much as you like,” according to the prosecution.

Prosecutor Stephen Parish dismissed Burns’ claim of consensual sex as “absolute fantasy,” questioning why the girl would have any interest in him, and implying that Burns did not present himself as an attractive or desirable figure. The defense, led by Marie Spenwyn, acknowledged the difficulty in defending Burns, emphasizing that the case was based on the testimony of the victim alone, with little other corroborating evidence. She pointed out that Burns had prior convictions for burglary, theft, and selling false charity lottery tickets, but admitted there were no other victims or allegations to mitigate his actions.

Following the sentencing, Detective Constable Tim McSpadden expressed his support for the victim, stating, “We have worked closely with the victim to support her throughout this case and the trial itself. I would like to thank her for demonstrating such bravery in coming forward to report these offences and for her continued courage throughout. I am pleased that this case has now come to a close and that justice has been served. I hope that the victim and her family can now begin to move forward with their lives.”