RICHARD PEARCE'S SHOCKING CRIMES IN CHIPPEHAM: TEENAGE PARTIES AND ABUSE AT WILTSHIRE FARM

In April 2002, a disturbing case unfolded involving Richard Pearce, a 59-year-old man from Chippenham, who was convicted and sentenced for serious misconduct involving underage girls. Pearce was found guilty of allowing his caravan, situated on a farm in Wiltshire, to be used as a venue for teenage parties that involved alcohol, cannabis, and sexual activities.

The court heard that Pearce had actively encouraged young girls as young as 11 to indulge in drinking alcohol, smoking cannabis, and staying overnight at his residence. These gatherings, which took place over several years, reportedly involved groups of between two and ten teenage girls, some accompanied by their boyfriends. The incidents spanned from the early 1990s until Pearce’s arrest in 2001, with the young girls frequently using Pearce’s two-bedroom caravan near Kington Langley, close to Chippenham.

Evidence presented in Swindon Crown Court revealed that Pearce had videotaped some of the girls while they were in a state of undress, wandering around his caravan. Prosecuting barrister Susan Evans detailed how Pearce had sometimes slept with the girls and even touched them inappropriately. The court was also informed that Pearce supplied alcohol, including vodka and cider, to the teenagers and permitted them to smoke cannabis on his premises.

Furthermore, Pearce was accused of providing transportation for the teenagers to and from local nightclubs and lending them large sums of money. During police interviews, Pearce admitted to kissing and cuddling the girls regularly, claiming his actions were merely affectionate and fatherly in nature. However, these admissions did little to mitigate the severity of his offenses.

Defense lawyer Paul Orton acknowledged that Pearce had come to realize the gravity of his actions. He commented that Pearce, who still considered himself youthful at heart, struggled to accept that he was approaching 60 years of age. Orton argued that the girls had exploited Pearce’s good nature, often using his van when he was not present, and that their involvement in sexual activities with their boyfriends did not justify Pearce’s conduct.

Ultimately, Pearce pleaded guilty to five counts of indecent assault and one count of allowing cannabis to be smoked on his property. The court sentenced him to a total of 15 months in prison—12 months for each indecent assault and three months for the cannabis charge, to be served concurrently. Additionally, Pearce was placed on the Sex Offenders Register, marking a significant legal consequence for his actions.

Judge Peter Thomas delivered a stern verdict, stating, “You were no love-struck teenager, but a man approaching 60 years of age who had abused these girls, some of whom you had known for many years.” The case highlights the disturbing abuse of trust and the exploitation of vulnerable young girls by an adult in a position of supposed care and familiarity.