In 2018, the Offender Database reported that Jeremy Pellow, then 64, of Hillside Road, Falmouth, Cornwall, was cleared of several charges involving the alleged historical sexual abuse of a young boy. On 3 September 2018, a jury at Truro Crown Court returned not guilty verdicts on 12 counts, including three counts of rape and three counts of indecent assault.
The investigation established that the allegations related to “vicious” abuse said to have occurred two decades prior in the Falmouth and Penryn areas. The prosecution reported that the alleged activity, which included anal rape, supposedly took place in Pellow’s lorry while he worked as an international driver. Pellow, a veteran of the Royal Artillery, denied all 17 charges, describing the claims as “absolute rubbish” and a “vendetta” against him.
Judicial Proceedings and Historical Convictions
The court reported that while the jury cleared Pellow of the most “serious” charges, they were unable to reach a verdict on five remaining counts, including four indecent assaults and one of gross indecency. During the trial, it was confirmed that Pellow had previously been jailed in 2008 for separate counts of indecency with a child and indecent assault of a male under 16. Despite those prior convictions, Pellow maintained his innocence from the witness stand, stating, “I have never touched a child in my life.”
The prosecution emphasised that the victim had provided specific details, including the description of an anchor tattoo on Pellow’s person, which he admitted getting in Hong Kong in 1975 but claimed was “common knowledge.” The judge emphasised that the jury’s failure to reach a verdict on the final five counts left the Crown Prosecution Service with a decision on whether to seek a retrial. For the proceedings in Truro, Pellow expressed being “gutted” and “gobsmacked” by the “horrific” nature of the accusations.
Status and Statutory Requirements
Following the 2018 trial at Truro Crown Court, the legal status of Jeremy Pellow was:
- Acquittals: Cleared of three rapes, three indecent assaults, and six other sex-related counts.
- Hung Jury: No verdict reached on five counts of indecent assault and gross indecency.
- Sex Offenders Register: Pellow remained subject to notification requirements due to his 2008 convictions.
- Historical Sentence: Served a prison term following his 2008 conviction for child sex offences.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Pellow is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Devon and Cornwall Police. Due to his 2008 “vile” offences involving minors, his status remains under “stringent” scrutiny by local authorities in Falmouth.
As a member of the Sex Offenders Register, Pellow must comply with notification requirements regarding his residence in Hillside Road, Falmouth. Authorities state that his risk management is “critical” given his history of “persistent” denial regarding his past convictions. Any breach of his registration conditions or any further “serious” allegations will result in his immediate return to Truro Crown Court.
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