Decades of remorse for sex pest Daniel Pettipher
by Keith Hunt
For more than 20 years Daniel Pettipher lived with the guilt of
having sexually abused three girls and a woman when he was a young
man.
The victims suffered in silence over the years and could not
bear to report what had happened to them to the police.
Pettipher finally confessed during a counselling session earlier
this year and he was arrested after the police were told.
Now the 39-year-old, of Morgan Drive, Greenhithe, has been
jailed for 10 years after admitting one offence of rape, one of
indecency with a child and seven of indecent assault.
Patricia May, prosecuting, said the offences were committed
between 1988 and 1995.
Pettipher was having counselling in January when he made the
confession. The victims were then approached and they revealed what
had happened to them.
He molested the young girls and raped one of them. One girl was
abused when he was babysitting her.
Mrs May told Maidstone Crown Court that the woman involved had
fallen asleep and awoke to find that Pettipher had taken her hand
and put it on his private parts.
On another occasion she was asleep and awoke to find Pettipher
naked next to her.
Judge Charles Macdonald QC said Pettipher told the counsellor he
felt ashamed and guilty about what he had done and had lived with
it for many years.
“He sought counselling because he needed help for what he had
done,” said the judge.
“I find there is genuine remorse. I accept he had a difficult
and deprived background, including a period when he was subjected
to sexual abuse.
“But for his confession in 2011, which triggered criminal
proceedings, the matter would not have come to light at all,
because none of the victims reported it.
“It is clear they would not have done so and his revelation has
not been welcomed by the complainants.”
Pettipher will be subject to a sexual offences prevention order
and his name will appear on the sex offenders’ register for life.
He will be banned from working with children under 16.
Judge Macdonald ordered that when released Pettipher should be
on licence for the full 10 years.
22/10/12
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