Monday, December 29, 2008

Norman Vivian Pearce Adelaide


NORMAN Vivian Pearce knew his prey - using flash cars, computer games and alcohol as the bait to lure at least eight young boys into his deviant sexual web.

Yesterday, the serial pedophile closed his eyes in resignation in the dock of the District Court, as justice finally caught up with him.

Some of the men whose lives Pearce ruined cheered and cried in relief as Judge Paul Rice convicted him on 18 child sex offences spanning more than a decade in the 1980s and early 1990s.

Pearce, 69, took on roles in organisations such as Naval Cadets and computer clubs to meet his victims and won the trust of their unsuspecting families.

Pearce, of Woodville South, was acquitted of charges involving a seven-year old boy after Judge Rice ruled he could not find the charges proven beyond reasonable doubt.

However, Judge Rice convicted him of indecent assault and unlawful sexual intercourse over attacks on the eight other boys.

"(Pearce) was shifty, feigned lack of memory and wove a story around the prosecution case," Judge Rice found.

Many of the victims said Pearce drove them around in a red Holden Monaro and plied them with alcohol and cigarettes.

One victim said he passed out drunk then woke with Pearce having anal sex with him.

Another said Pearce took advantage of his unstable home life and offered his townhouse as a "safe haven" from domestic troubles.

When asked why he returned to Pearce's home after the initial abuse, the victim said: "Basically Mr Pearce was a trusted member of the Air Youth at that time. I was having problems at home, I was scared by what he did to me."

The court heard Pearce kissed the head of another victim, saying: "Aren't you a beautiful boy, one of my beautiful boys."

After handing down his guilty verdicts, Judge Rice immediately revoked Pearce's bail despite a plea from his lawyer Shane Spence that he be allowed to remain in the community ahead of sentencing.

"He has been convicted of a lot of serious offences and he is going to go into custody at some time so it may as well start now," Judge Rice said.

ANDREW DOWDELL, COURT REPORTER

December 24, 2008 10:20am



http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,27574,24840353-2682,00.html

No comments:

Post a Comment