A jury has found a man accused of sexually abusing a Woodbridge schoolgirl not guilty of 16 offences, but has yet to reach verdicts on a number of remaining allegations.
Peter Eason, 66, of Owlthorpe Drive, Sheffield, appeared at Ipswich Crown Court on Friday (September 11) as jurors returned unanimous verdicts on 16 of the 21 counts he faces.
The complainant, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, alleged Eason committed a series of sexual offences against her between 2013 and 2018, when she was aged between 13 and 18.
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Despite her evidence, the jury found Eason not guilty on the following counts:
- Count 1 - sexual activity with a child
- Count 4 - assault by penetration
- Count 7 - rape
- Count 9 - sexual assault
- Count 10 - assault by penetration
- Count 11 - assault by penetration
- Count 12 - rape
- Count 13 - rape
- Count 14 - attempted rape
- Count 15 - causing a person to engage in sexual activity
- Count 16 - rape
- Count 17 - rape
- Count 18 - rape
- Count 19 - assault by penetration
- Count 20 - rape
- Count 21 - rape
The jury are yet to reach a verdict on the remaining two counts of causing or inciting a person to engage in sexual activity and three counts of sexual activity with a child.
As the verdicts were read out, Eason's wife and two sons sobbed in the public gallery.
Earlier in the trial, prosecutor Steven Ball told jurors there had been a significant "imbalance of power" between Eason, then in his 50s, and the teenager.
"Just stop and think for a moment of that 53-year-old seeking out a 13-year-old for his attention," he said. "She didn't stand a chance."
Mr Ball alleged Eason had "exploited" the girl's trust, become "obsessed" with her, and left her carrying "confusion, guilt, embarrassment and pressure".
However, defence barrister Rhys Rosser told the court there was "very little evidence" to be sure of and argued the allegations "simply never took place".
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His Honour Judge Richard Kelly has now given a majority verdict direction after around ten hours of deliberations, meaning that a verdict can be reached if ten or more jurors are in agreement.
The jurors were discharged for the weekend and will continue deliberating on the outstanding allegations on Monday.
The trial continues.
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