Peter Stone

Peter Stone, a 42-year-old man from Sprowston, Norfolk, admitted to sexually assaulting a vulnerable 13-year-old girl in an incident that was captured on CCTV footage. The assault came to light on 12 November 2023, when the girl's parents reported Stone's actions to the police after discovering the evidence. The teenager, who suffers from autism and other issues, was subjected to repeated kissing and inappropriate touching by Stone.

At Norwich Magistrates' Court, Josephine Jones, prosecuting, detailed how the CCTV footage revealed Stone's predatory behaviour towards the young girl. Following the incident, Stone sent a series of text messages apologising for his conduct, which further corroborated the evidence against him. Stone, residing at Rushmore Close in Sprowston, pleaded guilty to the charge of sexual activity with a child at his first court appearance.

The court was informed of Stone's prior criminal history, including a jail term in 2021 for breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO). This order had been imposed after his earlier conviction for possession of indecent images of children. Annette Hall, defending, highlighted that Stone's early guilty plea spared the victim the ordeal of a trial, noting, 'He has pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and taken responsibility for his actions.'

Sentencing was deferred to 17 February 2024, with magistrates warning that imprisonment or commitment to the Crown Court for a more severe penalty had not been ruled out. The case, reported by Simon Parkin for the Eastern Daily Press, underscores ongoing concerns about the protection of vulnerable children in the community.