PETER THOMAS FROM NEWTON SENTENCED TO TWO YEARS FOR MOLESTATION IN LIVERPOOL

In September 2002, Peter Thomas, a 62-year-old man from High Street, Newton, was sentenced to two years in prison after being convicted of grooming and molesting a 15-year-old boy. Thomas was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders' Register for 10 years. He pleaded guilty in Liverpool Crown Court on a Monday to two counts of indecently assaulting the boy in February of that year. The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was targeted after Thomas, who managed a newsagent's shop, invited him to his home and then engaged in inappropriate physical contact, pretending to measure and massage him. Judge William Thomas, sentencing him, stated that Thomas had 'groomed' the boy prior to the assault. Prosecutor Trevor Parry Jones commented that the offending took place during the boy's visit. Defense lawyer David Owen argued that Thomas denied massaging the boy, highlighted that he had no previous criminal record, and mentioned that Thomas had lost his job and would now need to relocate.