News

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.