Alexander Peppernell

Alexander Peppernell was convicted of several counts of indecent assault and causing a child to commit an act of gross indecency follwing allegations made against him many years after the alleged offences. The daughter of a close friend of Peppernell’s wife alleged that when she and Peppernell’s daughter were in bed, Peppernell would go into their bedroom and assault her on the pretence of telling bedtime stories. A daughter of Peppernell’s friend alleged Peppernell had assaulted her. On appeal, evidence was introduced from a new witness that she had heard one of the complainants trying to persuade the other to accuse Peppernall. The witness got the impression she wanted the other girl to back her up. The Court of Appeal found that the convictions were unsafe on the basis that this new evidence, if given at trial, might reasonably have affected the jury’s decision to convict Peppernell. No retrial was ordered due to the age and infirmity of Peppernell.

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