He tried to talk his way out of trouble, a court heard
Peter Horwood has been jailed(Image: Hull Live)
A serial sex offender was trapped by damning DNA evidence left on a carpet after he took advantage of a shocked woman and raped her. Peter Horwood later tried to talk his way out of trouble by pretending that they had consensual sex after they “shared a kiss” during a “really quick” encounter, Hull Crown Court heard.
Horwood, 32, of Hull, denied offences of rape, sexual assault and assault by penetration against a woman but he was convicted by a jury after a trial. He also denied rape of a child, sexual assault of a child and causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity against a separate victim but he was also convicted of those offences.
Claire Holmes, prosecuting, said that Horwood intimately touched the woman but she told him that it was not right. “She said to him: ‘That is not okay’,” added Miss Holmes.
“He didn’t stop. His conduct became much worse.” Horwood again touched the woman and he raped her. The woman froze.
Horwood also sexually assaulted her on other occasions. “She did not feel able to fight back,” said Miss Holmes. The police were called in and they found a stain on a carpet. It was forensically tested and Horwood’s DNA was found.
During police interview, Horwood made no comment on those matters. “The reason is that he doesn’t have an innocent explanation to give,” said Miss Holmes.
During his defence evidence, Horwood claimed that the woman was “sharing her stresses and struggles” with him and he put his hand on her arm to reassure her. He claimed that they “shared a kiss on the landing” and had consensual sex.
“It was really quick, to be honest,” he said. “I regret it, what happened that day. We just had a moment where we both misread the signs and signals.”
He claimed that, because they had sex so quickly, this was why DNA evidence from him was found on the floor.
Horwood also raped and sexually assaulted a young girl during separate offences. “She realised that this was very, very wrong,” said Miss Holmes. The victim later contacted the police. During police interview, Horwood denied that the incidents took place and claimed that they “simply didn’t happen”. Both victims were, however, “compelling witnesses”, said Miss Holmes.
Horwood had been on bail during the trial but he was remanded in custody after the guilty verdicts. At a sentencing hearing, Julia Baggs, mitigating, said that, since being remanded in custody, father-of-two Horwood had “behaved himself” and he had enhanced prisoner status.
He had completed courses in maths and English and he had paid employment in the printshop. “He wants to prepare himself to get into that type of work on his release,” said Miss Baggs. “He plans to move away from the area.”
Judge Alexander Menary told Horwood that they were “serious offences” and they had a “dreadful impact” afterwards. “These offences are so serious that only a sentence of immediate imprisonment can be justified,” said Judge Menary. “This was abuse and serious sexual offences.”
Horwood was jailed for 14-and-a-half years and he will have to register as a sex offender for life. He was given a restraining order for life.
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