Historic child abuse sees man back behind bars

Friday 18 October 2019

A 57-year-old man has been sent to prison for another nine months, after a historic sexual offence against a young girl came to light after he had been released from prison for other similar crimes.

Peter Nicolle was given a four-and-a-half year prison sentence for eight counts of indecent assault against a child back in 2012.

However, since his release, another count of indecent assault against a different victim has been reported.

That incident dates back to between 2009 and 2012, when the child was between seven and ten-years-old.

She had been sitting at a table with the defendant when he grabbed her foot and started to rub it on his groin, over his trousers. When she asked why, Nicolle responded by saying he had an itch.

The victim said this happened on multiple occasions.

Despite claiming he didn't remember a specific incident, the defendant entered an early guilty plea saying the victim "simply wouldn't lie".

Pictured: The defendant will return to Les Nicolles for a further nine months.

"I literally use his words in saying 'there is no mitigation in this case'," said Nicolle's Advocate, Liam Roffey. "The lasting psychological impacts of my clients actions cannot be ignored."

Advocate Roffey told the court how the defendant had not committed any further offences since he was released from prison in 2015.

"He has demonstrated he can live a law abiding life," he said. "The risk he poses has been effectively managed."

However, Judge Graeme McKerrell remained concerned about Nicolle's risk to the public.

"You are assessed as being a significant sexual risk to young females," he added on sentencing. "You know you have a problem and that what you do is wrong, but to some extent you blame others.

"You are an obvious present source of danger to young females and I have to do what I can do to protect the public from you."

As well as spending a further nine months in prison, Nicolle has been given a sexual offences prevention order, requiring him to reside at a permanent address, report to a supervising officer and avoid contact with female children unless approved by the officer.

Pictured top: The defendant was sentenced in the island's Magistrate's Court.