Daryll Pitcher outside County Hall

Cllr Daryll Pitcher found guilty of historic child rape charges

Isle of Wight councillor, Daryll Pitcher, has been found guilty of historic child rapes.

It follows a six-day trial at the Isle of Wight Crown Court, which concluded today (Monday).

Five hours to make decision
The jury retired for its deliberations this morning and after nearly five hours had made its decision.

Pitcher, 46, has been found guilty of two counts of rape between June 1990 and March 1992.

11-1 found Pitcher guilty
The jury reached a majority verdict on the counts, as members could not all agree, with 11 to one finding Pitcher, of Norman Way, Wootton, guilty.

Earlier in the trial, Pitcher had been found not guilty of indecent assault of a girl under 14 years as the prosecution presented no evidence.

Sentencing in April
A pre-sentence report was requested by Recorder Richard Onslow before, sentencing on 12th April.

Mr Onslow told Pitcher all sentencing options were open to the court and thanked the jury for listening to the case with care, as he noted at it had not been an easy one.

Sex Offenders’ Register
Pitcher will now be placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register and was bailed to appear at the sentencing, with the condition he did not contact the victim.


This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed

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bobmills
20, February 2023 6:41 pm

Have I missed something here or am I correct in saying Pitcher was 13/15 years old when he committed these offences ?

t1lly
Reply to  bobmills
20, February 2023 8:52 pm
chartman
Reply to  bobmills
20, February 2023 10:29 pm

Yes, the prosecution case rested on proving that he was over the age of 14 at the time…I sympathise with the victim but really? just 2 kids….

drone
Reply to  chartman
21, February 2023 11:20 am

“just 2 kids”?

Have you not read the reports? He is accused of raping another person … more than once!

It doesn’t matter what age they were, rape is rape!

beyondheat
Reply to  drone
21, February 2023 12:17 pm

I’m not condoning crime or rape, but the age does seem to matter. By which I mean, we have a much lower age of criminal responsibility than many other countries. If he had committed this in much of the rest of Europe, he would not be prosecuted as such. I don’t think for a minute any 13/14 year old considers ages of criminal responsibility when committing such… Read more »

kirkauld
21, February 2023 8:15 am

After 30years it is hard to understand how the prosecution managed to ‘prove beyond all possible doubt’ Mr Pitcher’s guilt when it is one person’s word against another unless we are not privy to all the facts.

grahamg
Reply to  kirkauld
21, February 2023 8:21 am

Which is why rape convictions are so shockingly low.
Thank goodness for “12 good men(and women)”.

dalek2
Reply to  kirkauld
21, February 2023 10:34 am

As I understand it, there’s no proof required for these historic cases. It’s largely down to who is the most convincing.

kirkauld
21, February 2023 10:55 am

In my comment I said ‘beyond all possible doubt’ and I should have put ‘beyond all reasonable doubt’.
My point however is not whether a person should have been convicted but really what counts as reasonable doubt in a case from 30 years ago.
As I stated there must have been other facts brought out during the trial to bring the jury to their decision.

Snowwolf1
21, February 2023 11:15 am

30+ years old case. If he did it his life is now ruined, if he didn’t then the “victim” has a lot to answer for. Strong believer in “What goes round comes round”.

chartman
21, February 2023 4:16 pm

One report said she didn’t know what was happening… Maybe he didn’t either..Maybe on reflection she had been persuaded by others that it was non concensional sex but was not bothered at the time. Who knows….

drone
Reply to  chartman
21, February 2023 5:24 pm

“The victim said the alleged incidents had been ingrained in her memory forever and that she had never forgotten what had happened.”

“The victim revealed to the court she had post-traumatic stress disorder because of the abuse.”

chartman
Reply to  drone
22, February 2023 10:18 am

And she suffered for 30+ years before deciding to complain ?

drone
Reply to  chartman
22, February 2023 10:31 am

How about “She suffered for 30+ years before deciding to seek justice”?

I really hope that none of your family members ever have to go through what those who suffer at the hands of a rapist do.

Especially as you appear to be devoid of compassion.

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