A CONVICTED burglar alleged that when he was a 12-year-old boy he had been raped by a brewery worker who had plied him with beer.

Four years, later he decided to seek revenge on the man, who he blamed for everything that had gone wrong in his life.

Blackburn magistrates heard that over the next six years the burglar beat his alleged attacker on at least three occasions, broke into his house on 12 occasions and was paid more than £1,200 not to go to the police.

But he finally made a belated complaint of rape after being convicted of burglary at the home of the man alleged to have raped him.

Before the court, John Parker, 62, of Pendle House, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to indecent assault on a boy between January 1, 1988 and December 31, 1989. He was sentenced to four months in prison.

His solicitor, Paul Schofield, immediately lodged an appeal against sentence, which will be heard by a judge at Preston Crown Court.

At the time of the offence Parker worked for a brewery and was known by some friends of the boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, to have a drink in the house.

The boy went to Parker's flat on three occasions and on the third occasion his friends had all left to get some cigarettes. It was then that he alleged that the rape took place.

The boy never spoke about the incident for four years until he told a friend and they decided to visit Parker at his flat. "The man, as he is now, told police that he decided to exact revenge," said Mrs Reed. "They visited and he beat Parker and then left."

Mrs Reed said the youth was then sent to prison for 13 months for an offence of burglary and, when he was released, again beat up Parker. Another 12-month sentence followed and again on his release he assaulted Parker.

"He said it was as if he was blaming the defendant for the way he had turned out," said Mrs Reed.

In February, 1998, the youth met up with Parker after serving a further prison sentence and told him he was going to tell the police. "Parker pleaded with him not to and said he would give him money on the first day of every month," said Mrs Reed. "That is what happened and he gave him either £100 or £150 every month."

The payments lasted until January when the youth was arrested in relation to a burglary at Parker's flat. He was sent to prison for that offence earlier this year and made a complaint of rape in June.

Mrs Reed said that when interviewed, Parker said he had never raped the youth, but admitted indecently assaulting him.

Paul Schofield said there was clearly an issue about what went on all those years ago.

The burglar made his statement of complaint after being sentenced to three years in prison for the burglary at Parker's flat.

"He has complained 10 years after the event," said Mr Schofield. "For clear and obvious reasons he has made a grossly exaggerated complaint. My client has always completely denied the offence of male rape on a 12 or 13-year-old boy.

"The police only charged him with indecent assault because they did no believe the account given by the aggrieved."

Mr Schofield said that what was equally relevant was what had happened in the intervening 10 years. "My client says he has been burgled 12 times and assaulted on three or four occasions," said Mr Schofield. "Whatever happened 10 years ago, my client has had a great deal of summary punishment by way of burglaries, assaults and, as you have heard from the police, cash payments.

"He has been beaten and threatened by the aggrieved and in order to stop the beatings he agreed to make the payments and has paid a total of £1,200," said Mr Schofield.

"He could make a complaint of blackmail against the other man but will not. All he asks is that this court takes into account the suffering he has undergone."

Mr Schofield said that since the events of 10 years ago, Parker had undergone voluntary treatment at Queens Park Hospital.

"There has been no repeat offending," said Mr Schofield, whose client is now on the sex offenders register.

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