RONALD PEARSON

‘EVIL’ SHERIFF HUTTON PREDATOR JAILED FOR 27 YEARS

An “evil” predator from North Yorkshire has been jailed for 27 years after being convicted of 24 counts of child sexual abuse against multiple victims.

Ronald Pearson led a “decades-long campaign of sexual abuse” which came “crashing down” after one victim reported him to the police, the Recorder of York, Judge Sean Morris said.

Pearson, 75, denied the offences, which included three charges of rape, but was convicted after trial.

“Had you had the decency and the courage of your victims you would have pleaded guilty to these offences,” Judge Morris told Pearson as he sat in dock at York Crown Court.

“But you did not have the courage or the decency of the victims.

You have no shame and you put them through the trial process.

And the jury, quite rightly, saw right through you.” Judge Morris also made Pearson, of New Lane, Sheriff Hutton, subject to an indefinite restraining order when he appeared for sentencing on Wednesday (January 21).

There were celebrations in the busy public gallery after the sentence was handed down.

The judge said he did not impose a life sentence or an extended sentence on Pearson as the risk to the public could be managed by the lengthy jail term and restraining order.

Judge Morris added that Pearson’s age meant he was likely to never be released from prison.