A trans-identified male has been convicted in Liverpool for the rape of an 11 year-old girl. Anthony “Aria” Peers, 51, is said to have used the child’s interest in the Star Wars series in order to groom her for sexual abuse. Peers was said to have subjected the child to “depraved” acts which left an “untold impact” on her.
Liverpool Crown Court heard on Monday that Peers had carried out the vile campaign in Wirral prior to declaring a transgender status. The pedophile began claiming to identify as a “transgender woman” some time after raping the child, but was referred to with feminine pronouns in court.
Though Peers denied the allegations, a jury convicted him on two counts of rape, attempted rape three charges of sexual assault and two offenses of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. According to local outlet Liverpool Echo, the predator touched the victim’s breasts and private parts before encouraging her to use a sex toy on herself. He then raped the child and told her to engage in acts which press declined to cover due to their graphic nature.
Peers was handed a 15-year prison sentence as Judge Katherine Pierpoint declared, “‘You targeted a young female child for your own sexual gratification. The impact on her is untold.”
However, the judge remarked sympathetically that the pedophile’s “gender identity” issues must have caused him inner turmoil.
“Prior to this, you worked as a support worker for a number of years. You have suffered with periods of anxiety and depression and have struggled with your gender identity throughout your life,” Judge Pierpoint said. “I appreciate that, as a transgender prisoner, there will be issues which you will have to navigate during the very long period of your sentence.”
The judge further commended the young girl for “standing up” to Peers’ sexual abuse when she confided in her friends and teachers about the assault.
Judge Pierpoint added: “I accept that, in this case, there is an element of grooming with the close bond that you developed and took advantage of. It became more sinister, with you grooming her so that you could start to abuse her. You took the opportunity to fulfill your own sexual desires.”
She continued: “You were disbelieved by the jury and convicted. You still deny these matters today. She is a brave young woman who, by coming forward, has stood up to you. I hope that, with the support of her family, she will be able to move on with her life.”
Defense counsel Anthony O’Donohoe told the court: “There is nothing I can say about the facts of the case. The defendant accepts that a significant, lengthy custodial sentence is inevitable in this case,” but expressed concern that prison would be “difficult” for Peers.
“The defendant has settled on the wing that she is on, and that is encouraging. That was a matter of some concern,” O’Donohoe said. “The custodial experience for her in her particular circumstances is likely to be more difficult to navigate than in other, more usual, cases.”
In addition to a 15-year sentence, Peers is subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and a lifelong restraining order, and will be required to sign the sex offenders’ register for life.
Despite not having legally changed his name, most news outlets covering the case chose to refer to Peers by his “chosen” name rather than his legal name.
Merseyside Police conducted the investigation into the sick predator. In June, Chief Constable Serena Kennedy issued a statement apologizing for historical “ill treatment” of the “LGBTQ+ community” in response to campaigner Peter Tatchell, who has previously argued favorably for adult-child sexual activity.