In 2023, the Offender Database recorded that 75-year-old Terence Power was jailed for three years and nine months after sexually abusing a young girl over a four-year period. Power—of School Board Lane, Chesterfield, Derbyshire—assaulted the victim on numerous occasions between the ages of six and ten. It was reported that the investigation was initiated in June 2022 after the survivor, who had blamed herself for years, plied the courage to report the historic abuse to the Derbyshire Constabulary.
The investigation established that Power used his “predatory instincts” to target a defenceless child and then attempted to shift the culpability onto her. Derby Crown Court heard that during his police interview, Power described the young girl as “wayward and promiscuous” and claimed he “didn’t see it as sexual behaviour.” The prosecution reported that Power told detectives his actions were “what she wanted,” a callous defence that was flatly rejected by the judiciary.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that the victim suffered profound psychological trauma, including nightmares and flashbacks that affected her throughout her school years. Derby Crown Court heard from Recorder Simon King, who told Power that it is always the fault of the sexually mature adult who abuses a child, never the minor. The investigation established that Power, a former military man, eventually admitted to four counts of assaulting a girl under 13 by touching, though only after his attempts to blame the victim failed to derail the prosecution.
Judge-led proceedings concluded with Power being removed from the community to serve his custodial term. For his actions in Chesterfield, he was handed a sentence of 45 months and placed on an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO). The judge noted the victim’s immense courage in attending the sentencing and ordered that Power remain on the Sex Offenders Register for life, ensuring his predatory history is permanently recorded by the authorities.
Status and Statutory Requirements
For the records reported in Derbyshire, the status of Terence Power as of April 4, 2026, was as follows:
- Custodial Status: RELEASED (Served custodial term; released on licence in 2025).
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements are active for life.
- SHPO Status: Sexual Harm Prevention Order active indefinitely.
- Licence Status: Subject to post-release supervision by the National Probation Service.
- Legal Status: CONVICTED (Assault of a girl under 13 by touching; 4 counts).
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Derby Crown Court; investigated by Derbyshire Constabulary.
- Criminal Record: 4-year abuse campaign; Targeting a 6-year-old; Blaming a child for “predatory instincts.”
- Origin: School Board Lane, Chesterfield, Derbyshire.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Power is managed as a high-priority registered sex offender within the Chesterfield area following his release in 2025. Due to the nature of his conduct—which involved the repeated sexual assault of a child and a documented history of “victim-blaming”—his management is a priority for the Derbyshire MAPPA (Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements) team. Authorities state that his return to a supportive domestic environment does not mitigate the legal requirements of his indefinite SHPO.
As a registered sex offender for life, the 75-year-old’s details are permanently logged on the national police database. Authorities state that his notification requirements ensure he must report his residency and any intended travel to the Derbyshire Constabulary. Any failure to notify police of his movements in Chesterfield, any unauthorized contact with children, or any breach of his SHPO conditions will result in immediate arrest and recall to prison to ensure the ongoing safety of the public from his demonstrated pattern of predatory sexual violence.
QUESTION – Given that the offender and his wife attempted to blame a six-year-old for his “predatory instincts,” do you believe that “Character Witnesses” who support a sex offender’s denials should be legally barred from providing evidence during the sentencing phase?
If you or anyone you know has been affected by the individuals highlighted on this website, please report them to the Police on 101 (999 in an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details on reporting a crime. You can also report to Crimestoppers if you wish to remain completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.