Gerald Peck, a self-described "body and energy therapist" from Brighton, has been jailed for 11 years after sexually assaulting a client multiple times. The 77-year-old deceived his victim, a woman in her 40s, into believing that penetration and intimate touching were necessary to ease her pain during therapy sessions.
Key Takeaways
A self-described 'body and energy therapist' was jailed for 11 years after sexually assaulting a client multiple times under the guise of therapy. Gerald Peck deceived his victim into believing sexual acts were part of treatment, leading to charges of sexual assault by penetration.
- Gerald Peck sentenced to 11 years in prison for sexually assaulting a client during therapy sessions
- Victim was deceived into believing sexual acts were therapeutic
- Peck claimed he was an accredited psychotherapist but had no recognized qualifications
- Case faced significant delays and initial dismissal before successful prosecution
Peck claimed he was an accredited psychotherapist but was not recognized by any UK psychotherapy umbrella organization. According to Sussex Police, Peck repeatedly lied to the victim, asserting that the sexual acts were part of the therapy and not for his own gratification. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) emphasized that consent obtained through deception is not valid.
The case faced significant challenges before reaching a successful prosecution. The victim first reported the abuse in February 2021, but the case was initially dropped due to insufficient evidence. It was only after intervention from the Centre for Women’s Justice (CWJ) that the case was re-opened and eventually brought to trial.
During sentencing at Lewes Crown Court on Thursday, Judge Mooney highlighted Peck's deceitfulness and lack of qualifications. "The young woman who came to see you believed you could help her at a particularly difficult time in her life. She had every reason to believe she could trust you," the judge said. "All the information you provided to her led her to believe you were a qualified bioenergetics practitioner. That was a lie."
The victim described the profound and lasting damage caused by Peck's actions, including terrifying flashbacks and ongoing mental health struggles. She expressed relief that Peck had been stopped from potentially harming other women but criticized the lengthy delays in the legal process.
Nogah Ofer, a solicitor with CWJ, called for greater regulation of therapists to prevent similar abuses. "You would not expect to see a medical or care professional who has no qualifications or oversight, and therapy should be no different," she said. The case underscores the need for stronger safeguards in therapeutic environments.
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