PETER WIDDOWSON SENTENCED IN BELPER FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF VICTIM WHO WANTED TO DIE

In August 2013, a harrowing case unfolded in Nottingham Crown Court involving Peter Widdowson, a 65-year-old man from Brookside, Belper, who was convicted of multiple charges of sexual abuse against a young girl. The court heard that Widdowson’s heinous acts spanned over six years, only ceasing when the victim was in her mid-teens. The emotional and psychological toll on the victim was profound, with her suffering from suicidal thoughts and feelings of helplessness, as detailed during the proceedings.

Judge Andrew Hamilton addressed Widdowson directly, stating, "She has been robbed of her childhood. I am afraid there is nothing I can do to give that back." The judge emphasized the severity of the trauma inflicted, describing the experience as "most awful" and underscoring that the victim bore no blame or guilt for what happened to her. Widdowson, who resides in Brookside, Belper, admitted to six counts of sexual abuse that occurred up until 1992. As a result of his conviction, he was placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register and prohibited from having unsupervised contact with any girl under the age of 16.

Prosecutor Gareth Gimson recounted the victim’s testimony, revealing her distress: "I can remember saying ‘stop it’ but he kept going. He just ignored me when I said ‘stop it.’ I just could not escape him." Gimson further explained that the victim was left feeling suicidal, with her describing her feelings as wanting to die on several occasions. The court was told that her childhood had been stolen from her, leaving scars that affected her future relationships. She was described as feeling violated, terrified, and terribly disempowered during the abuse, which initially appeared to Widdowson as some sort of game.

Defense attorney Gurdial Singh spoke on behalf of Widdowson, clarifying that at the time of the offences, his client was not involved in religion. However, Singh noted that in 2000, Widdowson found faith and became a religious man. Singh stated, "He is now a religious man. He accepts he is going to go into custody and has come here with a bag today. He stands by his faith which has enabled him to come to terms with his criminality." The lawyer also highlighted that Widdowson had no prior convictions and that he had entered guilty pleas promptly, avoiding a trial. Singh described his client as someone well thought of and acknowledged that Widdowson was aware he would face punishment.

Detective Constable Emily Town, who led the investigation, praised the victim’s bravery: "I praise the bravery of the victim for finding the courage to come forward. I hope the sentence will allow her to put this behind her and move forward with her life." She also emphasized Derbyshire police’s commitment to thoroughly investigating sexual abuse cases, even those committed many years ago, reaffirming their serious approach to such offences.

During sentencing, the judge explained that Widdowson was to be sentenced under the laws applicable at the time of the offences, which limited the maximum sentence to ten years. He noted, however, that under current laws, the typical range for such crimes is between 11 and 17 years, reflecting the serious nature of these offences as recognized by Parliament.