Boy and girl left traumatised after years of sex attacks from teenager

Jordan Pearson, 17, was found guilty of attacking the pair over a four-and-a-half year period after a four-day trial at the High Court in Edinburgh yesterday.

Pearson, of Galashiels, started abusing the girl in May 2006 when she was aged nine. He repeatedly performed a series of sex acts on the child at various addresses in the Borders town.

The sex offender then started to take advantage of the boy in June 2009 when he was 12. He also performed similar sex acts on the boy.

He was only caught when his female victim told her family what she had endured.

Pearson – who is known by his nickname Peanut – was convicted on three charges of sexual assault by a unanimous jury verdict.

During the trial, the court heard how both Pearson’s victims had been left severely traumatised as a consequence. The two, now teenagers, cannot be named for legal reasons.

The girl told prosecution lawyer Alison di Rollo that she was targeted by Pearson at various addresses in the Galashiels area.

She told the court: “I was upset and scared. He just said to me ‘don’t tell anybody’.

“He used to make me feel angry. I used to argue with my mum.

“Before it happened, I was happy. But my mood changed. I wasn’t happy any more.”

The abuse continued until November 2010 when she told a friend about what was happening to her.

Her friend told the girl to tell her family. She then told her sister, and the police became involved.

Meanwhile, Pearson was also abusing a boy at another address in Galashiels. He told the court that he did not like what Pearson was doing to him.

Pearson was arrested by police shortly afterwards and was brought to stand trial at the High Court in Edinburgh earlier this week. He was on bail for duration of the case.

Judge Lady Clark of Calton deferred sentence until next month so that she can obtain reports about his character.

Advocate depute Ms di Rollo handed the judge’s clerk statements from Pearson’s victims about the impact that the assaults have had on their lives.

She also continued Pearson’s bail on the condition that he does not approach his victims and stays in his house between 6pm and 6am each day. But she also warned him to expect to be sent to prison when he next appears in court in May.

Placing him on the sex offenders register, she said: “Be in no doubt that the offences that you have been convicted of are very serious.

“It looks likely that a custodial term – one that will be very lengthy – will be imposed upon you. I will defer sentence for reports.”