In 2026, the Offender Database recorded that Gerald Peck, 77, of York Villas, Brighton, East Sussex, was jailed for 11 years for a series of sexual assaults committed under the guise of therapy. On appearing at Lewes Crown Court on 12 March 2026, the defendant, who marketed himself as a “body and energy therapist,” was sentenced for crimes that involved the systematic exploitation of a woman in her 40s. It was reported that Peck had previously been banned from practising by the Bioenergetics Institute in the late 1980s for similar abusive behaviour.
The investigation established that Peck used his position of trust to manipulate the victim during her treatment for depression and physical pain. Sussex Police reported that Peck falsely claimed skin-to-skin contact, intimate touching, and penetration were legitimate therapeutic techniques required to alleviate her trauma and tension. The prosecution reported that although the victim initially felt she had consented, the law determined this consent was obtained through cruel deception, rendering it invalid.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Peck operated as a charlatan and a fraud, lacking any recognised qualifications or professional oversight. Lewes Crown Court heard how the victim sought Peck’s services in good faith, only to be subjected to abuse that caused profound damage to her mental and physical health. The investigation established that the case was initially closed by police in 2021 before being reopened following a successful Victim’s Right to Review supported by the Centre for Women’s Justice.
Judge Mooney noted that Peck had been sexually abusing women under the guise of therapy for decades and described him as a predator who believed he could get away with his actions. For his behaviour in Brighton, Peck was found guilty of two counts of assault by penetration and three counts of sexual assault. The judge noted the victim’s immense courage and sentenced Peck to 11 years in prison, while also ordering him to pay £9,730 in compensation to cover the survivor’s ongoing therapy costs.
Status and Statutory Requirements
For the crimes reported in England, the status of Gerald Peck is as follows:
- Custodial Sentence: 11 years in prison (2026).
- Compensation: Ordered to pay £9,730 to the victim within 10 months.
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements were activated for life.
- Restraining Order: Indefinite order protecting the survivor.
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Lewes Crown Court following a Sussex Police investigation.
- Criminal Record: Assault by penetration (2 counts); Sexual assault (3 counts).
- Origin: York Villas, Brighton, East Sussex.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Peck is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by the police and the National Probation Service in Sussex. Due to the nature of his conduct in Brighton, which involved the predatory exploitation of the therapist-client relationship, his management is subject to the highest level of scrutiny. Authorities state that his life-long inclusion on the Sex Offenders Register is a vital tool to ensure he is subject to permanent residency checks and is prevented from ever practising in a therapeutic or care-related capacity again.
As a member of the Sex Offenders Register for life, Peck must comply with all notification requirements regarding his identity and residence. Authorities state that his history of sexual violence and manipulation in East Sussex necessitates permanent vigilance. Any future attempt to offer therapeutic services, approach the survivor, or engage in inappropriate behaviour in Brighton or elsewhere will result in immediate arrest and a return to the court system for further incarceration.
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