THOMAS PEEL OF BARNOLDSWICK SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENSES IN PRESTON

In a case that has shocked the local community of Barnoldswick and the wider Preston area, Thomas Robert Peel has been sentenced to a total of two years in prison following convictions related to the sexual abuse of a young boy. The incident, which took place during Peel’s teenage years, has left a lasting impact on the victim, who bravely testified in court about the traumatic memories of being raped.

Preston Crown Court heard that Peel, now 35 years old, admitted to performing a sexual act on the boy, whose identity remains protected for legal reasons. However, Peel consistently denied that he forced the boy to perform sexual acts on him and maintained his innocence regarding the two counts of rape he was accused of. Despite his denials, a jury found Peel guilty of three separate charges last month, including one count of inciting a boy under the age of 14 to commit an act of gross indecency.

The victim, who appeared in court to give evidence, described the lasting psychological scars inflicted by Peel’s actions. The court was told that the memories of the abuse remain vivid and deeply distressing for the young man.

Judge David Potter addressed the court, expressing his belief that Peel’s offending had a profound and damaging effect on the victim. However, the judge also explained that his sentencing powers were limited by the guidelines in place at the time the offences occurred. He noted that if the crimes had been committed today, the charges would be classified differently, with more severe potential sentences. For example, the offence Peel pleaded guilty to would now be considered as inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

Furthermore, the two other offences, which would now be classified as rape of a child under 13, would carry a starting point of eight years in custody, with the maximum sentence reaching 13 years. In Peel’s case, he was sentenced to six months for the offence he admitted, plus an additional nine months for the second offence of inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity. For the two offences that would be classified as rape today, Peel received two-year sentences each. All sentences are to be served concurrently, resulting in an overall custodial term of two years.

In addition to his prison sentence, Peel has been placed on the sex offenders’ register for a period of 10 years, reflecting the seriousness of his crimes and the ongoing risk he poses to the community. The case has once again highlighted the importance of vigilance and justice in protecting vulnerable children from sexual exploitation and abuse.