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27/10/92 - Life for sex attacker
who killed schoolboy
By Colin Wright
Daily Telegraph
A MAN who sexually assaulted and strangled a seven-year-old
boy was jailed for life yesterday with a recommendation
that he serve a minimum 20 years. Richard Blenkey, 33,
a "pathetic and immature man", lured Paul Pearson
to his death as the child cycled home for tea in the Cleveland
coastal village of Marske.
Paul's family had moved to the pretty village only two
weeks previously because they felt it would be safer for
their four young children than the area of Middlesbrough
15 miles away in which they had lived.
Blenkey, an unemployed bachelor who knew Paul through
mutual friends, lured him into a filthy chicken hut on
his allotment, Teesside Crown Court heard. He stripped
him of his clothes and strangled him with twine before
dumping his body in undergrowth.
A pathologist reported signs that Paul had been subjected
to a serious sexual assault before he was killed. A witness
passing the shed at the time of the murder in August 1991
reported to police that he heard what he thought was sobbing
coming from the building and clearly heard Blenkey's voice.
Mr Justice Blofeld said Blenkey had displayed a "morbid
interest" in young boys long before the killing.
In 1978, he was convicted of a breach of the peace after
being involved in a struggle with a seven-year-old boy
whom he had abducted and taken into a wood. The child
managed to escape.
Blenkey, from the nearby village of Saltburn, pleaded
guilty to murdering Paul. He showed no signs of emotion
as the judge told him: "Paul Pearson was seven years
old and had the whole of his life before him. In your
hands, he suffered a terrifying experience which ended
with his death.
"There is strong evidence that, at some stage, his
trousers and underpants were removed by you and that could
only have been done by you for sexual gratification. "At
some stage you killed him. Whether that was to prevent
him from reporting you for your sexual acts no, one will
ever know.''
Mr Justice Blofeld said it was clear Blenkey represented
a significant risk to young boys. "The facts of this
case indicate that you are a danger to these vulnerable
members of society." Earlier, Mr Stephen Williamson,
QC, prosecuting, said Paul had come to know his killer
while working on an allotment tended by the parents of
a friend.
Blenkey worked at the allotment in the next plot and had
given the child some peas to take home after he had helped
him to pick them. On the evening of his death, Paul had
been cycling home after visiting a friend. His route passed
the allotment where he was lured in by Blenkey.
Mr Williamson said the child's track suit bottoms, underpants
and socks were removed while he was inside. He was then
strangled with a length of red baling twine. The court
was told Blenkey left Paul's body in the shed while he
went to baby-sit for friends. He returned later to the
scene when the alarm over the missing child was raised.
He removed the body and hid it in undergrowth. Paul was
found during a search of the area the following morning.
He was wearing a T-shirt, his track suit bottoms which
were on inside out and he was covered in chicken droppings
and pieces of straw. His underpants were later discovered
hidden in Blenkey's chicken hut.
His socks were found outside. Mr Barrie Stewart, defending,
said Blenkey bordered on the sub-normal, but there was
no indication he was mentally ill and he was considered
to be responsible for his actions. "We are dealing
with a pathetic, immature young man of limited intellect,
"he said.
After the hearing, Paul's parents, Ken and Julie Pearson,
both 31, said they had moved to Granville Close, Marske,
because they thought it would be a safe place to bring
up their son and their other children, Kevin, 11, Claire,
seven, and Christopher, five.
Mrs Pearson said she thought the death penalty should
be restored to deal with murders such as her son's."The
punishment has got to fit the crime. He killed Paul and
should pay for it with his life." |
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