Man guilty of rape during 1994 Prince's Trust trip

Peter Neild is already serving a jail sentence for previous sexual offences

A man who raped a teenager while on a 1994 trip to the Lake District has shown "no remorse" after his victim came forward decades later.

Peter Neild, 52, who had been taking part in a Prince's Trust group course, was found guilty of rape after a three-day trial.

Neild, who is already in prison for previous sexual offences, was described by police as a "prolific sex offender".

They said he was only concerned with "his own sexual gratification".

Chester Crown Court heard how the 18-year-old woman and Neild were both part of a group who had travelled to the Lake District as part of a Prince's Trust course being run by Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service.

The victim told the jury how she and Neild initially got along well and there seemed to be no issues.

'Mentally scarred'

But on the second night, she had been eating and chatting with Neild in the main communal area before Neild began molesting her, despite repeated requests for him to stop, Cheshire Constabulary said.

The woman, who had felt unable to report the offence at the time, came forward in May 2022 and an investigation was launched.

Det Sgt Helen Harrison of Northwich CID, which led the investigation, said: "Neild is a prolific sex offender who clearly has no regard for his victims, and shows no remorse for his actions, his only concern being fulfilling his own sexual gratification.

"In this case, the victim did not know Neild and had only gone on the Prince's Trust course as she wanted to help boost her confidence.

"Instead, she was left mentally scarred by what he did to her that night.

"However, thanks to the evidence that she provided Neild has now been held accountable for his actions that day."

He will be sentenced on 29 January.