PETER MAHONEY FROM LUTTERWORTH SENTENCED FOR SEX OFFENCES AGAINST YOUNG GIRLS IN LEICESTER

In a case that has shocked the community of Lutterworth and the surrounding areas, Peter Mahoney, a 71-year-old resident of Spring Close in Lutterworth, was subjected to a lengthy and severe prison sentence after being convicted of heinous crimes involving two young schoolgirls. The court proceedings revealed a disturbing pattern of abuse that left the victims deeply traumatized and their lives forever altered.

Mahoney was first brought to justice in July of the previous year when Leicester Crown Court sentenced him to nine years behind bars. The jury found him guilty of sexually assaulting two girls, whose ages ranged from seven to nine years old. The court heard that Mahoney had engaged in a series of inappropriate and sexualized behaviors over a period of two to three years, during which he manipulated and groomed his young victims under the guise of innocent gestures, such as hugs. Judge Lynn Tayton, presiding over the case, emphasized the severity of the grooming process and the innocence of the children, stating, “There was grooming in relation to both of these children. They were too young to understand the significance of your actions.”

During the trial, it was revealed that Mahoney’s actions came to light in 2011 when one of the victims confided in her mother. The subsequent investigation uncovered evidence of Mahoney’s inappropriate conduct, which included sexual touching and the possession of indecent images of children. When police arrested him, Mahoney attempted to conceal a computer memory stick containing multiple indecent and abusive videos of children, claiming that the images had been sent to him anonymously and that he had downloaded them while checking his computer for viruses. However, the court rejected his explanations, with Judge Tayton condemning the images as “appalling” and emphasizing that such material fuels a market for the exploitation of children.

Further complicating the case was Mahoney’s denial of the allegations, insisting that the victims were lying and that he was innocent. In police interviews, he claimed that the accusations were part of a conspiracy against him. Despite his denials, evidence presented during the trial demonstrated a clear pattern of sexual interest in children, supported by the possession of indecent images at various levels of severity, including some in the most serious category. Mahoney admitted to possessing three such images and a prohibited image of a child, which the prosecution argued was indicative of his ongoing sexual interest in minors.

Pre-sentence reports indicated that Mahoney showed no remorse or insight into the suffering of his victims. The court noted that he remained in “rigid denial” about his past crimes, which only reinforced the view that he posed a significant risk to children. The judge highlighted the profound impact on the victims, who continue to suffer from nightmares and emotional scars. Mahoney’s case was brought before the Court of Appeal as he sought to have his sentence reduced, but Mr Justice Irwin, along with Lord Justice Bean and Judge Paul Batty QC, unanimously upheld the original nine-year term, affirming that the sentence was fully justified given the gravity of his crimes.

In addition to the sexual assault convictions, Mahoney was also convicted of multiple counts of possessing indecent images of children, which further demonstrated his disturbing sexual interests. The court also imposed a sexual offences prevention order, restricting Mahoney from having unsupervised contact with children under 16, in an effort to prevent any future harm.

Mahoney’s criminal history and the nature of his offenses have left the community of Lutterworth and Leicester in shock. The case underscores the importance of vigilance and the need for ongoing protection of vulnerable children from predators like Mahoney, whose actions have caused irreparable damage to his victims and their families.