PETER STEWART SEX OFFENDER FROM LOUGHBOROUGH FACES LAWSUIT OVER ABUSE CLAIMS
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Loughborough Sexual Abuser
In a case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Loughborough, a woman in her twenties has brought a legal action against the Trustees of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Great Britain, alleging that they failed to adequately protect her from the sexual misconduct of Peter Stewart, a former Jehovah’s Witness elder and ministerial servant. The lawsuit, which seeks damages of £500,000, stems from abuse she endured during her childhood in Loughborough during the 1980s and 1990s.
During proceedings at London's High Court, the unidentified woman recounted the traumatic experiences she suffered at the hands of Stewart, who was a respected and devout member of the congregation at the time. Her barrister, James Counsell, detailed how Stewart molested her over a span of five years, starting when she was just four years old and continuing until she was nine. The abuse took place within the community, and the woman described how Stewart exploited his position as a ministerial servant to carry out these acts.
According to her account, Stewart used manipulative tactics to silence her, including threats related to Armageddon and accusations that her actions constituted fornication and sin. The court heard that Stewart’s actions had devastating effects on her mental health, leading to disrupted education, hindered career prospects, and persistent nightmares. Her suffering culminated in a suicide attempt, during which she left a note and was found unconscious on her bed after passing out next to a pile of paracetamol while on holiday with her husband. Her reaction was triggered by a distressing encounter with Jehovah’s Witness literature, which prompted her to pursue legal action.
Stewart, who died aged 72 in June 2001, was described as an apparently “respected and devout” member of the congregation. His death occurred shortly before police arrived at his home to arrest him on charges related to the abuse of the claimant. The court was told that Stewart had been convicted of sexually abusing a schoolgirl and a young boy in 1995, and that he had disassociated himself from the Jehovah’s Witnesses before he could be formally disfellowshipped.
Legal representatives for the Jehovah’s Witness elders argued that they bore no legal responsibility for Stewart’s actions. Adam Weitzman, the barrister representing the elders, emphasized that much of Stewart’s misconduct happened “in the community,” and that the elders could not have restricted his movements or interactions with others. He also pointed out that Stewart’s role as a “ministerial servant” did not grant him formal authority, and that the elders had taken steps to remove him from his position once his misconduct was discovered in 1990. Despite this, Stewart had already disassociated himself from the faith before he was formally expelled, following his 1995 convictions.
Weitzman further argued that the elders had no direct knowledge of the abuse of the claimant, and that while some abusive acts did occur, the details regarding the period, nature, and scope of the abuse remain unknown. He maintained that it would be inappropriate to hold the trustees vicariously liable for Stewart’s actions, especially given that key documents, including police interviews, had gone missing over the years, and many witnesses had died. The barrister also clarified that Stewart’s role did not require him to have contact with children, and that any interactions he had with minors were not part of his official duties. The court was told that Stewart was not expected to develop personal or intimate relationships with children, and that individual contact without parental supervision was contrary to the role of a ministerial servant.
The case is nearing its conclusion, with Mr. Justice Globe expected to reserve his judgment for a later date, leaving the community and the victims awaiting the final decision on accountability and justice.
During proceedings at London's High Court, the unidentified woman recounted the traumatic experiences she suffered at the hands of Stewart, who was a respected and devout member of the congregation at the time. Her barrister, James Counsell, detailed how Stewart molested her over a span of five years, starting when she was just four years old and continuing until she was nine. The abuse took place within the community, and the woman described how Stewart exploited his position as a ministerial servant to carry out these acts.
According to her account, Stewart used manipulative tactics to silence her, including threats related to Armageddon and accusations that her actions constituted fornication and sin. The court heard that Stewart’s actions had devastating effects on her mental health, leading to disrupted education, hindered career prospects, and persistent nightmares. Her suffering culminated in a suicide attempt, during which she left a note and was found unconscious on her bed after passing out next to a pile of paracetamol while on holiday with her husband. Her reaction was triggered by a distressing encounter with Jehovah’s Witness literature, which prompted her to pursue legal action.
Stewart, who died aged 72 in June 2001, was described as an apparently “respected and devout” member of the congregation. His death occurred shortly before police arrived at his home to arrest him on charges related to the abuse of the claimant. The court was told that Stewart had been convicted of sexually abusing a schoolgirl and a young boy in 1995, and that he had disassociated himself from the Jehovah’s Witnesses before he could be formally disfellowshipped.
Legal representatives for the Jehovah’s Witness elders argued that they bore no legal responsibility for Stewart’s actions. Adam Weitzman, the barrister representing the elders, emphasized that much of Stewart’s misconduct happened “in the community,” and that the elders could not have restricted his movements or interactions with others. He also pointed out that Stewart’s role as a “ministerial servant” did not grant him formal authority, and that the elders had taken steps to remove him from his position once his misconduct was discovered in 1990. Despite this, Stewart had already disassociated himself from the faith before he was formally expelled, following his 1995 convictions.
Weitzman further argued that the elders had no direct knowledge of the abuse of the claimant, and that while some abusive acts did occur, the details regarding the period, nature, and scope of the abuse remain unknown. He maintained that it would be inappropriate to hold the trustees vicariously liable for Stewart’s actions, especially given that key documents, including police interviews, had gone missing over the years, and many witnesses had died. The barrister also clarified that Stewart’s role did not require him to have contact with children, and that any interactions he had with minors were not part of his official duties. The court was told that Stewart was not expected to develop personal or intimate relationships with children, and that individual contact without parental supervision was contrary to the role of a ministerial servant.
The case is nearing its conclusion, with Mr. Justice Globe expected to reserve his judgment for a later date, leaving the community and the victims awaiting the final decision on accountability and justice.