Man (67) jailed for 17 years for sexually abusing two boys

A FORMER groundsman has been jailed for 17 years after he admitted sexually assaulting two boys.

Peter Weyman (67) changed his plea and admitted sexual assaults on two boys which date back to the 1980s and 1990s.

The charges related to offences against a boy aged nine to 13 in Rotherham between 1984 and 1991 and another boy aged 12 to 14 at the privately run Chelfham Mill School, near Barnstaple in Devon between 1992 and 1994.

Weyman (pictured), of Cleveland Close, Carlton in Lindrick, admitted 11 offences of indecent assault or indecency with a child, seven of them relating to the Rotherham boy and four to the Chelfham boy.

Further allegations, which include abduction of the boy at Chelfham, which Weyman denied, will not be pursued.

Weyman worked as a groundsman, maintenance man and janitor at the school which catered for vulnerable children from troubled backgrounds, many of whom were sent there by local authorities.

Judge Geoffrey Mercer sentenced jailed Weyman for 12 years for the offences committed in South Yorkshire and for a further five years, to run consecutively, for the later offences investigated by Devon and Cornwall Police.

Det Con Richard Howe, the investigating officer, said afterwards, in relation to the earlier victim: “An investigation in to Weyman was launched in 2017 after his victim came forward to report what had happened to him.

“The victim, now an adult, bravely told officers about the abuse he had suffered at the hands of Weyman while he was living in Rotherham between 1984 and 1991.

“Weyman used bribes to overpower the victim, telling him he would buy him toys and things he wanted, abusing the trust he had gained from the victim for his own evil purposes.

“The victim has shown incredible bravery in coming forward to report what happened. 

“The abuse Weyman subjected him to was absolutely horrific, so horrific in fact that the victim was nearly physically sick when recalling what had happened.

“I’d like to praise him for the courage he has shown throughout this entire process and I’m pleased that Weyman pleaded guilty, meaning the victim was spared the ordeal of a trial.

“Any report of a sexual offence, no matter when it occurred, will always be looked in to and a prosecution sought where possible for these horrendous crimes.”