Victim says CPS failed after abuser's sentence cut

A victim of multiple sexual offences says she has been failed by prosecutors after her abuser's prison sentence was reduced.

Brett Peterson admitted having a sexual relationship with a vulnerable woman and was jailed for five years and eight months, but the sentence was later cut by six months after disputed evidence was considered by a judge.

His victim, Claire — not her real name — said the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) failed to submit evidence of her miscarriage during the second hearing, and left her feeling she had "no justice".

The CPS said it was sorry for failures in how it communicated with Claire and accepted she should have been informed about developments in the case.

Claire is autistic and has a number of mental health conditions which mean she is considered a vulnerable adult.

The BBC has changed her name in order to protect her right to anonymity.

Peterson, 56, of Skillington, Lincolnshire, was Claire's care worker but she said he "spent most of his time flirting" and "not really ever talking about mental health".

"He always complimented you too much and stared at you too much and said he was going to look after you," she added.

Peterson admitted having a sexual relationship with Claire while working for the Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

At sentencing on 9 May 2025 at Lincoln Crown Court, Judge Simon Hirst told him: "The damage you have caused is undescribable.

"The impact on her is truly profound."

GP medical records seen by the BBC show Claire had a positive pregnancy test in August 2020 and later suffered an early miscarriage.

Her miscarriage was initially taken into account at Peterson's sentencing on 9 May 2025.

Claire said the judge acknowledging her loss was "getting me through".

"It was helping me make some kind of peace in my head," she added.

In a letter to Claire, seen by the BBC, the CPS said that the judge made it clear that the pregnancy accounted for 12 months of Peterson's sentence.

However, at a further hearing on 12 June 2025, which Claire was not aware of, the defence submitted evidence of two negative pregnancy tests.

The CPS said the judge decided this created "doubt about the pregnancy", leading him to reduce the sentence by six months.

Claire said these tests were taken after her miscarriage and the CPS had failed to provide supporting evidence of her pregnancy.

"I feel pain every day that people have told you something didn't happen when it's right in front of me," she said.

Claire said it was not until 30 December 2025 that she found out Peterson's sentence had been changed.

"I've been totally oblivious all year and it kind of put me into a mental breakdown," she said.

Claire said the reduction in Peterson's sentence made her feel "like I didn't want to be alive, like everything that I'd done the case for - for him to be held accountable - had been taken away".

She added: "It's insulting and degrading. You feel like you've been called a liar."

"Now I feel that - doing the case - we should never [have] bothered. I think that I got absolutely no justice, and I don't think I'll find any peace from it."

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this story, help and support is available at BBC Action Line.

Claire said she was not involved in the hearing process at any stage.

A CPS spokesperson said: "She [the victim] should have been informed about the post‑sentence hearing and the reduction in sentence, and it was wrong that this did not happen.

"These failings have been upheld through our complaints process, we have apologised directly to the victim, and a goodwill payment has been offered."

In a letter to Claire, seen by the BBC, the CPS offered Claire a discretionary goodwill payment of £500 for "the distress caused by poor service".

The CPS said in the letter that this was maximum amount available, reflecting the "seriousness of the failings".

Claire said the goodwill payment offer was "pathetic".

"It doesn't make up for six months off a prison sentence and what they've taken away," she added.

Lincoln Crown Court heard Peterson resigned from his job after his wife discovered the relationship. He was arrested in 2023.

Peterson pleaded guilty to seven counts of sexual activity with a person with a mental disorder by a care worker and two counts of causing or inciting sexual activity with a person with a mental disorder by a care worker.

Sarah Lindop, mitigating for Peterson at his initial sentencing, said he accepted his behaviour was ill-advised and said his guilty pleas had spared his victim the trauma of a trial.

Peterson will be on the sex offenders register for life. A restraining order prevents him from having any contact with Claire.

Claire has been told by the CPS that Peterson has lodged an appeal against his sentence, and that they would present her medical evidence if the appeal proceeds.

The CPS spokesperson said: "The defendant remains convicted of serious sexual offences and is serving a substantial prison sentence.

"There are ongoing legal proceedings, including an application to appeal, and it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage."

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