Plymouth man jailed for the rape and sexual assaults of children
Joe Pearson, aged 22 from Plymouth, was sentenced on Tuesday 29 August at Plymouth Crown Court to 19 years in prison following a nine-day trial.
He was convicted on Thursday 3 August to three counts of rape of a child and three counts of sexual activity with a child.
Pearson was handed a 19-year prison sentence with a further six years on extended licence for dangerousness.
He will also be put on the sex offenders register for life.
The investigation led by Devon and Cornwall Police discovered that the abuse had taken place in Plymouth between 2019 and 2020 and involved three victims, one of whom had been just 12 years old at the time of the offence. The two other victims had been teenagers at the time of the offences.
Detective Sergeant Chris Kinski paid tribute to the "bravery of the victims during the investigation".
DS 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."
If you’ve been affected by anything in this news article, support is available. Please contact the police via our website here or by calling 101. Alternatively, advice and support are also offered by our partner agencies:
National Rape Crisis Helpline 0808 802 9999
Victim Care Unit (Devon and Cornwall) 01392 475900
Devon and Cornwall Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARC) 0300 3034626
More: www.dc.police.uk/Rape-SexualAssault
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