RAYMOND PELZ FROM LUDGERSHALL SENTENCED FOR HISTORIC SEX OFFENCES IN LEWES

In August 2022, the case of Raymond Pelz, a man from Ludgershall, took a significant turn after his initial sentencing for serious historical sexual offences was deemed unduly lenient by the Court of Appeal. Pelz, now aged 76, was convicted of multiple counts of sexual assault and rape involving two young girls, crimes that spanned over a year from 1961 to 1963, when he was only 15 years old.

The proceedings took place at Lewes Crown Court, where Pelz was found guilty on June 1, 2022, of two counts of rape and two counts of sexual assault. The court sentenced him to three years in prison for these offences and mandated that he be registered on the sex offender register for the remainder of his life. The sentencing drew attention from higher authorities due to concerns that the punishment was insufficient given the gravity of the crimes.

Following the sentencing, the then Solicitor General, Alex Chalk MP, formally referred Pelz’s case to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme. The purpose of this referral was to seek a review of the original sentence, which was argued to be too lenient considering the nature and severity of the offences committed.

On September 6, 2022, the Court of Appeal examined Pelz’s case and concluded that the initial sentence did not adequately reflect the seriousness of his crimes. As a result, the court increased Pelz’s prison term from three years to five years, emphasizing the importance of appropriate punishment for such grave offences.

Details of the case reveal that Pelz’s crimes involved repeated sexual abuse of two young girls during the early 1960s. The offences included sexual intercourse with a girl under 13 and indecent assault, all committed when Pelz was a teenager himself. The trial, which lasted eight days, resulted in Pelz’s conviction on four counts, and he was subsequently sentenced to concurrent terms of three years each. His name will also remain on the sex offenders register until further notice, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his status.

Pelz’s case highlights the ongoing efforts of the justice system to address historical sexual offences and ensure that sentences reflect the severity of such crimes, regardless of the passage of time. The case also underscores the importance of judicial review in cases where initial sentencing may be perceived as insufficient to serve justice and protect the community.