Man given 25-year jail term for child sex offences

The court heard Bunney's offending was first investigated in 2006

A man from Cornwall has been jailed for 25 years after being convicted of rape and sexual offences against five children.

Peter Bunney, 46, of no fixed abode, was found guilty of two indecent assaults on a child, five sexual assaults by penetration on a child under 13 and seven rapes of a child under 13 when he appeared at Truro Crown Court on Friday.

He was also found guilty of two sexual assaults of a child under 13, causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity and sexual activity with a child.

Bunney, who has links to Truro, Camborne and Redruth, was first investigated by police in 2006 after two children said they had been assaulted by him but there was insufficient evidence for a prosecution at the time, the court heard.

However, in 2020 police were contacted by two parents who reported the historical rape of their daughter by Bunney.

The victim spoke to officers and described how she was sexually abused a number of times, which included sexual touching and rape, and Bunney said he would pay the victim if she let him do it again.

Following this victim’s report another female was spoken to by police and disclosed an incident of sexual touching from Bunney when she was a child.

Officers then spoke to a further victim who said when she was about eight years old Bunney exposed himself in front of her.

One of the girls also said Bunney had raped her on several occasions.

Another victim said she was abused in 2019 in a swimming pool changing room.

'Courage, strength and dignity'

Det Con Heather Tippett, an officer involved in the case, said she had "nothing but admiration for the victims".

She said they had showed "courage, strength and dignity".

She added: “I hope this case demonstrates how seriously the police take this type of offending and sends a strong message to those committing such horrific offences against children, the result of which leaves a profound and lasting effect on its victims.”

Judge Simon Carr sentenced Bunney to 25 years in prison with a one-year extended licence.