November 2014
Former coach driver has admitted indecently assaulting a schoolboy
Peter McLaughlin, 61, entered his guilty pleas on the day that he was due to start a trial at Carlisle Crown Court over 15 similar allegations of abusing the boy.
Until today, he had denied any wrongdoing, but he finally admitted twice indecently assaulting the boy when his victim was just 15.
An earlier hearing had heard how McLaughlin committed the offences in the 1990s when he lived in the Greystone Road area of Carlisle.
The prosecution claimed the abuse started when the victim was just 13, but the defendant continues to deny this.
Earlier, the court heard that the defendant deliberately befriended his victim at a time when he worked as a driver for Redcrest Holidays, travelling all over Britain and Europe.
In court today, prosecutor Kim Whittlestone outlined how the allegations have already been scrutinised during two trials.
After the first, the jury were unable to reach a verdict while in the most recent trial the illness of a juror led to the case being abandoned.
The decision to accept the two guilty please offered was reached after detailed consultation with the victim, who otherwise would have faced the prospect of testifying for a third time.
The victim acknowledged that McLaughlin’s pleas reflected his admission “of a continuous course of conduct” when he was 15, said Miss Whittlestone.
As a result of the guilty pleas, Judge Peter Hughes QC ordered that McLaughlin, now living Murray Park, Stanley, County Durham, should sign the Sex Offenders’ Register. The period of time he will be on the register will be determined by the sentence that is ultimately imposed.
The judge also made the defendant subject to an indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order, which severely restricts his future contact with any child.
Referring to the victim’s decision to accept the guilty pleas, Miss Whittlestone added: “He wants to ensure that this doesn’t happen again – hence the Sexual Offences Prevention Order.”
She added that the 13 unresolved allegations of indecent assault, relating to when the victim was 13 and 14, are likely to be left to lie on file.
Judge Hughes granted McLaughlin bail until the sentencing hearing on January 2 so that background reports can be prepared. He added that he will be considering all sentencing options.
Since leaving Cumbria, McLaughlin has become actively involved in local politics in Durham and served as a chairman of Stanley Town Council. It is understood that he has now resigned from that position and also from the Labour Party.
He is also a former chairman of the Stanley Area Action Partnership and stood unsuccessfully as a Labour candidate for Tanfield ward in the last Durham County Council local election.
In court today, he showed little emotion, speaking only to confirm his name and to enter his pleas.
