PETER DEAL FROM EAST HAM JAILED FOR HISTORIC CHILD ABUSE CASE INVOLVING SCHOOLBOY AND BOXING CLUB

In a case that has shocked the local community of East Ham, a former boxing coach named Peter Deal has been sentenced to prison for the sexual abuse of a young boy over four decades ago. The sentencing took place at Inner London Crown Court, where Deal, aged 74, received a five-year jail term after pleading guilty to multiple charges of indecent assault and buggery committed between 1969 and 1973.

Deal’s victim, now 54 years old, had kept the traumatic memories of his abuse secret for nearly 40 years. His silence was broken only after he heard a radio interview featuring former England rugby star Brian Moore, who openly discussed his own childhood experiences of sexual abuse. This revelation prompted the victim to finally come forward, confiding in his wife and subsequently reporting the abuse to the police.

The court heard that the abuse began when the victim was just 10 years old, at the East Ham Boxing Club where Deal was a coach. Over the course of several years, Deal engaged in repeated acts of sexual misconduct, including indecent touching and rape, with the victim, who was then a young boy. The abuse reportedly occurred during training sessions, in Deal’s car, and even at Deal’s home, where he took the boy during school holidays under false pretenses. The victim estimated that he was raped approximately 50 times during this period.

Prosecutor Chris Stimpson detailed how Deal’s grooming and abuse extended beyond the boxing club. Deal had also been previously convicted in 2006 for abusing two other boys at the same East Ham Boxing Club, a sentence that was reduced on appeal from eight to seven years, and from which he was released in 2011. The court noted that if these prior convictions had been known at the time of his earlier sentencing, Deal would have faced a much longer prison term.

During the sentencing hearing, Judge Roger Chapple described Deal’s conduct as a “course of persistent sexual abuse,” emphasizing the revulsion such conduct should evoke in any reasonable person. The judge acknowledged the profound impact on the victim, who had to live with the trauma for nearly four decades. He also pointed out Deal’s age and health, which factored into the decision to impose a five-year sentence, alongside the fact that Deal was already subject to a lifetime Sexual Offences Prevention Order.

The case also revealed Deal’s involvement with the Rippleway Newham Football Club, where he was a coach and where he first met the victim. Deal’s grooming began with seemingly innocent acts, such as giving the boy lifts home after training sessions, which later escalated to repeated sexual assaults. The victim recounted that Deal had even persuaded his parents to allow him to stay over during the summer holidays before a five-a-side tournament, during which the abuse continued.

It was only in August 2011 that the victim decided to speak out, after hearing Brian Moore’s interview. He confided in his wife, revealing that he had been sexually abused by Deal, which led to the police investigation. The victim described feeling “dirty” and “not a real man,” and admitted to showering multiple times a day as a way to cope with his shame. His wife confirmed her concern over his behavior, which was consistent with the effects of long-term trauma.

Deal initially denied the charges but later pleaded guilty to seven counts out of an original 17 in October of the previous year. The court heard that the abuse was a systematic pattern, with Deal exploiting his position as a coach to commit these heinous acts. The victim’s statement expressed relief that justice was finally served, and he urged other potential victims to come forward.

Legal representatives from law firm Pannone, including abuse case specialist solicitor Molly Whittall, indicated that they are exploring the possibility of civil action against the East Ham Boxing Club, which has since relocated from the area. Whittall highlighted how suppressed memories of abuse can resurface many years later, often triggered by public disclosures or personal reflections. She appealed for anyone with information about the club’s current whereabouts or its successor organizations to come forward to assist ongoing investigations.