PETER REDDAWAY SHOCKS ST HELENS AND OLD SWAN WITH 18-YEAR SENTENCE FOR RAPE OF SCHOOLGIRL

In a harrowing case that has sent shockwaves through the communities of Old Swan and St Helens, Peter Reddaway, a 52-year-old nurse, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for a series of heinous sexual offenses against a teenage girl. The court heard that Reddaway, who was employed at the Old Swan Walk-in Centre, engaged in a disturbing campaign of sexual assault against the girl, who was in her mid-teens at the time.

Reddaway faced six counts of rape, all of which he denied. However, the jury found him guilty of a sustained and calculated campaign of sexual abuse, revealing a pattern of predatory behavior that spanned over a period of time. The Liverpool Crown Court was told that the man, a father of three, resided on Hawksworth Close in Formby, but his actions had a profound impact on the victim and her family.

Judge Steven Everett delivered a stern judgment, describing Reddaway’s victim as having rightfully labeled him a “calculating paedophile” who concealed his true nature behind a facade of respectability. The judge emphasized that Reddaway’s moral character was deeply flawed, stating, “You are a man without any moral fibre in reality, hiding behind the façade of caring for the public. Sexually, at least for some reason, you were just simply unable to control your behaviour.”

The court heard disturbing details of the abuse, which began when Reddaway was helping the girl with her homework. During one incident, he falsely claimed to have a maths book upstairs, only to push her onto a bed and assault her, ignoring her pleas to stop. On another occasion, when she was home alone, Reddaway entered her house without permission, went into her bedroom, and raped her again. The victim described how these assaults became so frequent that they “simply became part of her life,” and she eventually felt compelled to meet him willingly, engaging in sexual acts before he left for work.

Prosecutor Louise McCloskey recounted that the victim’s memories of the rapes were so overwhelming that they seemed to dominate her existence. She explained that the girl’s compliance grew over time, leading her to agree to meet Reddaway for sex, despite her initial resistance.

During the trial, evidence was also presented from Reddaway’s ex-wife, Gayle Reddaway, a fellow nurse. She revealed that she discovered his affair with their live-in nanny only last year. She also disclosed that Reddaway had previously cheated on her with his current wife, Carol, which contributed to the breakdown of their marriage in 2000.

The victim, whose identity remains protected for legal reasons, described her feelings of betrayal and trauma. She told the court that Reddaway justified his actions by claiming “he couldn’t help it because of his high sex drive.” She expressed her horror at his double life, noting that he had raped her and slept with the nanny while her children were in the house in St Helens. She described her sense of loss and violation, saying, “Peter Reddaway stole from me things that should not be taken. Gifts that humans normally give freely to people they love.”

She further explained that she had undergone counseling to cope with her trauma but felt that Reddaway’s actions had irreparably damaged her ability to trust others. Her words conveyed the deep emotional scars left by his predatory behavior.

Defense lawyer Peter Killen argued that Reddaway had provided “great service to the public” through his career in the NHS, attempting to paint a picture of a respected professional. However, Judge Everett was unpersuaded, condemning Reddaway’s manipulative use of his community standing to prey on vulnerable girls. The judge described his actions as a calculated abuse of trust, stating, “You preyed on the fact you were a respected member of the community and your victim was just a girl, ‘using her like a piece of meat.’”

In addition to the prison sentence, Reddaway was ordered to register as a sex offender for life. The judge concluded with a stark warning, emphasizing the gravity of his crimes: “You thought she would never be believed. You believed you were almost untouchable in that regard. You have shown no remorse at all for what you did. I have no doubt you have no concept of the effect you had on her, which is a strange feature and a strange irony given your so-called caring profession. You are that calculating paedophile. You are a man with no morals.”