PETER POWER OF ST GEORGE SENTENCED FOR HISTORIC SEXUAL ABUSE IN BRISTOL
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St George Child Sexual Abuser
In a case that has spanned decades and brought to light disturbing allegations, Peter Power, an 81-year-old resident of St George, was recently convicted of serious sexual offenses committed against a young boy in Bristol many years ago. Power, a former railway worker associated with the Great Western Railway, has consistently maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings, denying any involvement in the allegations brought against him.
The conviction was handed down by Bristol Crown Court after a jury found Power guilty of six charges related to indecency with a child. These charges, in contemporary terms, correspond to two counts of causing a child under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity and four counts of sexual assault on a child under 13. The case was particularly complex due to its historical nature, requiring the judge, Euan Ambrose, to consider what the maximum sentence would have been at the time the offenses occurred.
Following the verdict, Power was sentenced to a term of six years and four months in prison. During the sentencing, Judge Ambrose addressed the court and emphasized the profound and lasting impact of Power’s actions on the victim. The judge stated, “Your offending has caused (the complainant) to suffer severe psychological harm. His entire life has been profoundly affected by the abuse he suffered at your hands. He suffered complex post-traumatic stress disorder. He still says that he can find himself wishing he was at the end of his life as then it would all be over and there would be no more pain. The court acknowledges the dreadful harm to him.”
The court proceedings revealed that Power engaged in sexual acts with the young boy and also coerced the child into touching him intimately. Prosecutor Mary Cowe presented evidence indicating that during the abuse, Power warned the boy that if he told his parents about what had happened, they would become angry. This intimidation was part of the pattern of abuse that left a lasting scar on the victim’s mental health and well-being.
The case highlights the enduring challenge of addressing historic sexual abuse allegations, especially when the victims are children and the offenses occurred many years in the past. The court’s decision reflects a recognition of the severity of the crimes and the importance of holding offenders accountable, regardless of the passage of time.
The conviction was handed down by Bristol Crown Court after a jury found Power guilty of six charges related to indecency with a child. These charges, in contemporary terms, correspond to two counts of causing a child under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity and four counts of sexual assault on a child under 13. The case was particularly complex due to its historical nature, requiring the judge, Euan Ambrose, to consider what the maximum sentence would have been at the time the offenses occurred.
Following the verdict, Power was sentenced to a term of six years and four months in prison. During the sentencing, Judge Ambrose addressed the court and emphasized the profound and lasting impact of Power’s actions on the victim. The judge stated, “Your offending has caused (the complainant) to suffer severe psychological harm. His entire life has been profoundly affected by the abuse he suffered at your hands. He suffered complex post-traumatic stress disorder. He still says that he can find himself wishing he was at the end of his life as then it would all be over and there would be no more pain. The court acknowledges the dreadful harm to him.”
The court proceedings revealed that Power engaged in sexual acts with the young boy and also coerced the child into touching him intimately. Prosecutor Mary Cowe presented evidence indicating that during the abuse, Power warned the boy that if he told his parents about what had happened, they would become angry. This intimidation was part of the pattern of abuse that left a lasting scar on the victim’s mental health and well-being.
The case highlights the enduring challenge of addressing historic sexual abuse allegations, especially when the victims are children and the offenses occurred many years in the past. The court’s decision reflects a recognition of the severity of the crimes and the importance of holding offenders accountable, regardless of the passage of time.