Joe Pearson 23

Description

Joe Pearson, of Victoria Place, Stoke, Plymouth, left a 'trail of emotional carnage and trauma' behind him following his crimes which took place in different locations around Plymouth in 2019 and 2020.

Plymouth Crown Court heard how Pearson targeted the first girl when he was just a little under 18 and she was aged under 13. He went on to rape - including anal rape - and engage in sexual activity with two more girls aged under 15. The court heard that he continued his offending even after being arrested in May 2020 whereupon he was 'released under investigation', committing further offences in October 2020.

Following a nine-day trial, Pearson was found guilty of two counts of rape of a child under the age of 13 and one count of rape of a teenager. Pearson, aged 22, was also found guilty of three counts of penetrative sexual activity with a girl aged between 13 and 15.

Sentencing Judge Peter Johnson said the offences all came within just 18 months and each of his victims were vulnerable. He noted how one of the rapes took place at West Hoe park. He said Pearson threatened the girl, calling her a "bitch" and "slag" and as she tried to resist her he put his hands around her neck "causing her to see stars". Judge Johnson said when Pearson had finished he turned around and "smirked at her". Another girl said he anally raped her "despite repeated protests".

Judge Johnson sentenced Pearson to 19 years, but added that he considered Pearson to represent a "significant risk of causing serious harm to young females caused by committing further specified offences" and as such imposed an extended sentence of six years, bringing the total sentence to 26 years. He told Pearson he would serve two-thirds of the custodial term before being released on licence which would include the extension. Judge Johnson also placed Pearson on the Sex Offenders Register "indefinitely" and prohibited him from ever working with vulnerable adults and children.

Det Sgt Chris Kinski, from Plymouth's Operation Gemstone team who investigate sexual offences, paid tribute to the "bravery of the victims during the investigation".

Det Sgt Kinski said: "Their courage in reporting this sickening abuse to the police resulted in the conviction of Pearson. This was a complex case with a number of victims, who were all juveniles at the time of the offences. Pearson is a sexual predator who clearly targeted young girls to commit his offences against, picking on their individual vulnerabilities.

"We hope that outcomes such as these encourage other complainants to come forward and report offences that may have been committed against them. You will be believed and supported, and we will investigate fully in our pursuit to seek justice.

"Violence against women and girls is one of Devon and Cornwall Police's main priorities and this investigation highlights our commitment to securing convictions for these offences."

The court heard from prosecutor Peter Rouch KC who explained that all three girls had similar characteristics in that they were young and vulnerable, going through difficulties at home and school. He said Pearson met all three online and effectively groomed them. He said the three girls were effectively targeted by Pearson because they were "young, vulnerable, troubled girls".

The court heard that Pearson forcibly raped his first victim, "overpowering her" despite her shouts and screams and kicking, having first led her to an isolated park. He then "took steps" to stop her reporting the rape, ordering her not to tell anyone or he would rape her again.

The victim impact statements of the three young victims were read out by prosecutor Peter Rouch KC who revealed that the first girl had left school due to bullying, in part because of what she had suffered at the hands of Pearson. She said that when she eventually told her mother, she was accused of lying. She said she could no longer enjoy going out as she was distrustful of new people and she now panicked if she goes anywhere near where the assaults took place.

She said that her wardrobe was now "black, white or beige so I fade into the background when I'm out and about" and if she sees someone who is similar to Pearson she panics. She said she even has flashbacks of the assaults while asleep and has caught herself waking from dreams shouting "that's enough" to an empty room.

The second victim said the rape and abuse was the "worst time of my life". She now suffers anxiety and depression and is on medication. Due to the abuse, she said she was unable to concentrate at college and had to leave. She said she constantly felt vulnerable when out in public and did not go anywhere on her own.

She wrote: "I feel I will never recover from what he's put me through, but I know that I protected others from being put in the same situation as I have and that makes me proud of myself".

The third victim said she had distanced herself from her family despite knowing they wanted to help her "but no-one can help me".

She said she did not know how to talk about how she now feels and it was easier to "keep it inside". She wrote how she cannot sleep well at night and lays awake thinking "horrible thoughts". She said social services had tried to help but she wrote, 'What's the point? I still feel the pain'.

She wrote how she lost her friends and had got in with "a bad crowd", leading her to take drugs, adding: "I liked it, because it helped with forgetting the pain". While she had started to rebuild her relationship with her family she was unable to talk about the rapes.

She wrote: "When I look in the mirror I hate what I see. I feel worthless and didn't see the point of living."

Mr Rouch also read a victim impact statement from the mother of the third victim who asked how could she put into words "the hurt and anger that I feel everyday".

She said the "vile actions" of Pearson had scarred her entire family as they witnessed the "physical and emotional suffering" her daughter had endured. She said what had been done to her daughter had "shattered my heart and soul" and had left the family feeling "broken and helpless".

She added: "The guilt and anger I feel consumes me because as a mum I was supposed to protect my daughter from monsters. I was the one who was meant to make sure my daughter grew up in a world where my daughter felt safe, protected from harm and to feel loved, but that was taken away from her - and you [Pearson] took it from me."

She said she had been left with a "shadow of a girl" her daughter used to be. She said her daughter no longer saw any good in herself and "doesn't believe she deserves love".

She wrote: "The pain crushes me, it consumes me like no other pain. To hear your daughter scream out in pain every night, for months and months, listening to the words, 'I don't want to be here anymore, I don't belong in the world'."

In mitigation, Pearson's advocate Will Parkhill noted that but for a conviction for being drunk and disorderly, his client had no other previous convictions. He also noted that at the time of the first offence his client was "17 and three quarters". In addition, he said Pearson was of "limited maturity, limited sophistication and probably limited intelligence". He said Pearson did not have a "particularly great start in life".

Judge Johnson said that despite being arrested on May 16, 2020 he denied the offences and was released under investigation. Judge Johnson told Pearson "this arrest didn't stop you", as he went onto sexually abuse and rape another young woman at a location near Plymouth.

Pearson was told that despite "overwhelming evidence" he continued to deny the offences, claiming either that it did not take place, or was done with consent. He said the victim impact statements were "moving statements which set out the massive, traumatic daily effects" of his actions. 

He added: "You are a sexual predator who has left a trail of emotional carnage and trauma behind you, with scarcely a backward glance on your part. Your victims should be proud of the fact that they were brave enough to give evidence to ensure that you are brought to justice."