Sentenced for a total of 18 years, a Great Yarmouth Paedophile Peter Isherwood has 16 years to serve in jail and two years on licence for previous sex offences against three minors.
Peter Isherwood, 66, of Harfreys Road, Great Yarmouth, showed up at Norwich Crown Court today (July 12, 2024), where he was sentenced for four counts of indecent assault, two counts of gross indecency with a child, one of sexual assault of a child and one count of inciting a child to participate in a sexual activity and failing to surrender. He had earlier entered as not guilty but changed his plea to guilty during the trial.
The court heard that police were approached when a lady revealed to another adult in September 2017 that Isherwood had sexually abused her as a youngster. Two more victims of Peter Isherwood came forward and told police they had been sexually assaulted by him when they were young girls following officer inquiries.
The crimes of Peter Isherwoodrelate to three female victims spanning the late 1980s to the 2000s.
Outside the court hearing, DS Ricki Peake said that Isherwood had to be tried and convicted in his absence after selling his property, liquidising his assets and fleeing to Thailand after being accused of the charges while on bail awaiting trial in October 2022. Following conviction, Norfolk police and the CPS collaborated extensively with Interpol and Thai authorities; he was subsequently apprehended re-entering the country at Heathrow Airport in April 2024 and remanded for sentencing.
Court readouts of the victims’ remarks included:
One of his victim’s comments, “I will never forgive him for what he put my family through,” describes her losing her profession from anxiety and sadness.
A second victim claimed his abuse had caused her to block out memories of her childhood and have panic episodes as well as physical and mental tiredness.
In her statement, a third victim remarked: “My innocence was destroyed. My confidence was destroyed entirely. Though I live in hope, not the conviction that one day I will find peace, I know I will never be able to escape my experiences.
“The victim-survivors in this case have been quite brave coming forward and providing evidence to us,” said DS Ricki Peake. Having to go through past terrible occurrences from this kind of crime can be upsetting. With any luck, the sentence will be somewhat equitable, given what they have suffered.
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