Exclusive interview: Clydebank teenagers on life as a victim of sex abuse

Less than two weeks later, the Crown wrote inviting just one of six survivors to sign up to a notification scheme. Two months after that, the same young woman, now aged 17, was asked for her opinion on her attacker’s eventual parole.

And nine months into his 18-month sentence, he was released – just in time for Christmas.  Again, she remained the only one of six survivors of his crimes to be informed.

Stephen Pearson was convicted by a jury of a string of attacks on the girls, four of whom spoke exclusively to the Post last year.

One year on, they have moved on with their lives, positive and strong, but fearing bumping into their attacker on the streets of Clydebank. Some of the survivors were just 13 when he struck.

He is understood to have resumed some of his former life. 

The justice system went by the book, notifying only the survivor whose attacks merited an 18-month jail sentence. Because the rest were shorter sentences and served at the same time, they were never contacted.

It’s only because all Pearson’s survivors have remained close friends that they all knew what was going on. Had he been locked up for 17 months instead, they would not have known.

“Julie”, whose name we have changed to protect her identity, was the one written to. She signed up for “victim notification” and submitted letters from the others to the parole board.

But the other survivors would not be written to because they were not part of the scheme. And only Julie was protected by added restrictions that Pearson not contact her in any way. 

“I’m unsure why I was the only one contacted,” she says, unaware of the 18-month rule, “but I’m glad I was otherwise we would have had no idea of his whereabouts. It’s a bit scary to think that if the other girls weren’t contacted then I could have been the same and none of us would be the wiser to where he is.

“None of the other girls received any of these letters whatsoever. But when I sent my letter off I also included another three letters so they could have a say. The other girls didn’t even receive a letter telling them his release date.

“I [told the parole board] how it ruined my life and how it would affect me if I saw him. I asked them to consider not letting him out on early release for my own well being.

“I was hoping they would listen but I don’t think they did, otherwise he wouldn’t have been released just before Christmas. Being released just before Christmas sort of took away the excitement from the festive period as I knew he would be out enjoying himself which I hoped he wouldn’t be doing so soon.”

The young women, all still teenagers, have found strength in surviving their ordeal together, forced to grow up traversing the justice system, particularly being branded as liars by Pearson’s defence and supporters throughout the case.

“We were gutted to hear he was out so early but still happy that we got some justice out of it all,” says “Andrea”, another survivor. “I think he was out on ‘good behaviour’ which I don’t find very fair – at the end of the day why go to court to get the sentence if he will only serve part of it?

“I must say I was and still am very anxious to see him about the area as I have not seen him yet, I think it will just bring back horrible memories if I do.”

All the survivors of Pearson’s crimes were young people who loved horses and working with them – and he exploited that. 

He would offer to let them ride his horse or even rent him to them in one case. He claimed they were helping him out – only to then send sexual messages within weeks. 

He would use his connections through parents and shows both to make new links with potential victims and manipulate them against each other if they dared complain about his behaviour. 

His sexual behaviour towards Julie began in February 2013 when she was aged just 13. 

In June, he sexually assaulted “Kate” on a train, then called her a liar when she tried to warn others. Simultaneously, in June and July that year, he sexually assaulted 14-year-old Andrea and sent sexual messages to “Claire”, 15.

In August he sexually assaulted “Emily”, aged 14.

By 2014, he was sending sexual messages to Julie, by this point 14, and also “Lucy”, then aged 13, sending her a picture of his private parts. Pearson again made sexual advances to Julie in May 2014 at his caravan.

It was a later argument between Julie and Lucy, overheard by Julie’s mum, that ultimately opened the floodgates of reports to police.

Now, following his release, Pearson’s survivors are circumspect. They are fearful of seeing him on the streets, stronger in friendship and facing life’s challenges, and frustrated by how the justice system works.

Julie admits to being torn in the last several months about whether Pearson had learned his lesson, initially hoping he had, then worrying he hadn’t.

“Although being unhappy and apprehensive of his early release I was happy to take it as I felt as if he may have learned from his mistakes,” she explains.

“But as Pearson has been roaming so nearby, aware of where I am and the other girls, it’s made me realise he hasn’t learned from his actions and is acting smug over the situation. I hate this. His early release was hard enough to take let alone with him being released back into the area.”

The Parole Board for Scotland said it would not comment on individual cases. But a spokesman said: “Persons who are victims of crime may, in certain circumstances, register with the Victim Notification Scheme (VNS). Information about how to register is provided to victims by the Crown Office at the point of sentence.

“Where a victim has registered with VNS, Scottish Ministers will contact them in advance of the board’s consideration asking if they would like to submit representations. Those representations will be added to the offender’s dossier and will be considered by the board.

“When the outcome of the board’s consideration is known, the victim registered with VNS will be advised of the decision and any licence conditions that refer to them. Other parties may write to the board with comments however the board will only respond to those persons registered with VNS.”

The survivors are not just sitting around avoiding life – they have maintained their passion for horses and for each other. They know the trial by fire they’ve been through.

“After the case we all have been doing rather well as we are taking different paths in life,” says Andrea.  “Even after all this time we’re are all still very close friends and I feel even more so after the case. 

“I have more important things going on in my life now for me to sit and dwell on it all. I must say though, the whole situation was obviously very difficult to deal with at such a young age but it has all been such a learning experience. 

“It has made me grow into a much stronger and responsible person even though I get memories of it all from time to time and develop anxiety and trust issues with people – these are all things that daily remind me to be strong.

“It has made me become really mature for my age. I can see this through my every day life and when situations become tricky I feel that I can cope with with them better than some others.”

TIMELINE

• February 1-28, 2013 - earliest offences by Pearson against “Julie”
• March 21, 2016 - Pearson jailed for 18 months and put on the sex offenders register indefinitely
• April 5, 2016 - Crown Office writes to Julie informing her she is entitled to register with the victim notification scheme with the Scottish Prison Service (SPS)
• June 2, 2016 - Scottish Government’s justice directorate writes to Julie saying Pearson’s case will “likely” be considered around October 11
• July 21, 2016 - Julie writes to the Parole Board with her opinion and those of three other survivors
• November 16, 2016 - SPS writes to Julie saying Pearson is due to be released on December 20, suggesting she may find it helpful to speak to Victim Support
• November 29, 2016 - Parole Board for Scotland confirms what the prison service already told her, that Pearson would be released on non-parole licence. They added an additional condition: “You shall not speak, approach or communicate in any way, or attempt to speak, approach or communicate in any way either directly or indirectly with [Julie] without the prior approval of your supervising officer.” They again suggested she could speak to Victim Support.
• December 20, 2016 - Pearson is released on non-parole licence.