Locations
Colaton Raleigh, East Devon, EX10
Description
A disgraced ex-headteacher, who was jailed for sexually assaulting a teenager, has had his sentence slashed by senior judges.
Alistair Perry was locked up for 28 months in July last year after jurors convicted him of two counts of indecent assault.
The 47-year-old, who was once the executive principal at Colston’s Girls’ School in Bristol, had denied twice preying on his victim when she was 16.
However, a jury found him guilty of the attacks, after hearing his victim describe how his "hands were everywhere.”
During Perry's trial, the court heard how the girl had gone to Perry's house in Weston-super-Mare days before her GCSEs for maths tuition.
The victim's parents had trusted their friend to help their daughter and they started revising in his mini office in his home.
However, while his wife and parents-in-law were downstairs, Perry moved the session to his bedroom where he sexually assaulted her.
The second attack happened when she returned to the teacher's home to babysit Perry's son.
On crutches at the time, she was sitting on the sofa watching TV when Perry came downstairs and lifted her onto his lap. Using one hand to hold onto her, he touched her under her bra and knickers, she told officers.
The victim later told her father about the abuse but he did not go to police because he was worried about "invasive questioning", Cardiff Crown Court heard.
The court was also told that leaders of the church both families attended, which cannot be named to protect the anonymity of the victim, had known about the abuse, but decided not to take it further because it was between “him and God”.
Governors of Colston’s Girls' School attended court last year to defend the ex-headteacher, having written character references for him which referred to him as an "honest" and "hardworking" man.
However, a former pupil of Perry's told the court he would often make "sexual jokes" and "looked down girls' tops".
Yesterday (January 29), London's Appeal Court was told that the victim reported her ordeal to the police years after it happened, following encouragement by a psychiatrist.
During the appeal hearing, lawyers for Perry, of Colaton Raleigh, east Devon, pointed to his “glowing references” and “model" behaviour in prison.
Mr Justice Sweeney told the court “his fall from grace has been considerable" but said "he has a capacity for rehabilitation".
He continued: "He has nobody to blame but himself for the fact that he committed these offences and the consequent ruin of his life."
Justice Sweeney described the case as a “tragedy” for all concerned but ruled that the 28-month term was excessive and reduced it to 20 months.
'Perry held a position of great trust and responsibility'
Commenting at the time of Perry's sentencing at Newport Crown Court, an NSPCC South West spokesman said: “Perry held a position of great trust and responsibility over children for many years but carried out an appalling attack on a child for his own sexual gratification.
“It is right that he has now faced justice for his disgraceful actions and this case should reassure victims that they will be listened to and believed if they come forward to report non-recent child sexual abuse.
“We hope the victim is now receiving support to recover from what happened to her.”