An ‘evil and dangerous’ sexual predator was today jailed for 27 years for multiple counts of child sexual abuse.
Ronald Pearson, 75, of New Lane, Sheriff Hutton, has finally been brought to justice years after he devastated many young lives.
Pearson was found guilty of 24 non-recent child abuse offences against five girls aged between 5 and 18 at York Crown Court in November.
At today’s sentencing hearing at York Crown Court, Pearson was also made subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and placed on the Register of Sex Offenders for the rest of his life.
An investigation was launched in September 2022 after one of his victims bravely told police what he had done to her.
Three more girls were quickly identified as victims by the Scarborough and Ryedale Safeguarding Investigation Team.
These offences occurred during the past two decades in the Ryedale area.
North Yorkshire Police’s intelligence systems identified a possible match to Pearson regarding a previous complaint by a fifth victim.
She had originally come forward to the police in 2004 but had felt unable to continue with her complaint.
However, despite difficulties due to a name change, she was successfully traced by detectives in February 2023.
She formally outlined the multiple rapes and sexual assaults that Pearson had subjected her to more than 30 years ago in the Scarborough area when under the age of 14.
Pearson was interviewed under caution and subsequently charged in September 2024.
These include three counts of rape of a female under 16; sexual assault on a female; assault of a girl under 13 by touching; assault of a girl under 13 by penetration with a part of your body/a thing; indecent assault on a girl under the age of 14; causing or inciting a girl under 13 to engage in a non-penetrative sexual activity; and engaging in non-penetrative sexual activity with a girl 13-15.
Detective Constable Kate Peet, of the Scarborough and Ryedale Safeguarding Investigation Team, said: “It took a great deal of courage for the five victims to provide their evidential accounts and to attend court to give evidence against Pearson.
“He denied the offences in police interview and at court, therefore creating additional trauma for the victims who had to recount extremely painful experiences from their younger lives before a judge and jury.
“The jury identified that Pearson was lying. They could see he had manipulated each of the young victims and engineered opportunities to be alone with them, then abusing them for his own sexual gratification.
“The prison sentence and public protection measures handed to Pearson reflect the gravity of the harm he has caused to the victims, whose lives have been irreparably changed by his acts.
“He is proven to be a dangerous sexual predator who poses an extreme risk to girls.
“I recognise how difficult and brave it was for the victims to vocalise what Pearson had done to them. I hope that in observing justice being done, the victims are able to begin a process of healing.
“I have nothing but admiration for all five victims who found the strength to speak out about their abuse and abuser and seek the justice they deserved. I wish them well for the future.”
‘Horrific past’
Here are some of the words of his victims, read out in court.
It has taken much emotional strength and soul searching to try and put into words the impact that his despicable actions have had on my life.
He knew exactly what he was doing to meet his own warped sexual desires.
When he started to touch me inappropriately, I knew no different. He told me it was ‘our secret’ and I ‘mustn’t tell anyone’. I was young, innocent and had no reason not to trust him.
It was only when it progressed to full penetration that I recall things started to feel very different, extremely uncomfortable and scary. The impact of a fully grown, sexually aroused, physically strong man, penetrating a young girl is horrific and evil…
The depth of the psychological impact that this has had on my life is simply inexpressible.
I felt immense guilt and shame for the abuse that I had experienced and my resulting behaviour towards my family. I began taking medication for my mental health, which has increased in dosage/strength for over 20 years to the high level it is today…
Now, I know that I have done my very best to seek justice and protect others from his evil actions. The emotional, physical, and mental battle to get to the point of a guilty verdict will have been worth it.
Whilst I am sure there may still be difficult times ahead coming to terms with what has happened during this case, I only hope I will eventually feel a sense of freedom from the horrific past that has had a hold on my life for too long.
Knowing how deep the scars of my own trauma run, and all the ways in which I still feel this scar, I cannot imagine the horror of being consistently exposed to his suffocating, defiling grip.
To rob a child of their innocence like this, to take advantage of their pure defencelessness, was a choice made by a grown man that deserves to be condemned.
