Carer jailed for sex assault on disabled man

A former carer, who indecently assaulted a man with cerebral
palsy and performed a sex act against him, has been jailed by a
crown court judge for two years.

Richard Pelling, now of Sutton in Surrey, faced five charges of
indecent assault and one of gross indecency. He admitted one
indecent assault and the gross indecency charge, but denied the
remaining charges.

Heather Frith, representing Pelling, who at the time lived in
Sandown on the Isle of Wight, said her client believed he was
“performing a service for a man who had not had the chance of any
other sexual experience”. His marriage of 30 years has now broken
down as a result of his recognition of his sexuality.

Judge Richard Price told Isle of Wight county court: “This case
is not about your sexual orientation – it is about breach of
trust against someone you were responsible for.” The judge ordered
the four charges Pelling denied to be left on file.

Pelling’s victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons,
had a mental age of between seven and 10-years-old, which prevented
his video evidence being accepted by the court.

After the case DC Nick Heelan said police were satisfied with
the length of sentence imposed upon the carer of a disabled man,
whose health has seriously deteriorated since the incidents.