Cambridgeshire man posed as police officer to sexually assault children, court hears

A 70-year-old man from Cambridgeshire pleaded guilty in court to seven historic sex offences, including posing as a police officer to assault children in London parks

A predator who disguised himself as a figure of authority to sexually assault children in London parks has appeared in court.

David Pearce, 70, from March, pleaded guilty at Snaresbrook Crown Court in London today (Wednesday, May 6) to seven sex offences, including six counts of indecent assault and one count of indecency with a child.

Prosecutors allege that on April 23, 1990, at Barking park lido, Pearce, posing as either a police officer or a caretaker, approached four children, two boys and two girls aged between eight and 11, claiming that keys were missing, before carrying out the assaults.

At a recreational ground in July 1996, he indecently assaulted two 13-year-old girls, according to prosecutors. The court was told that officers were able to link semen discovered on a bench following the 1990 incident to Pearce after he was arrested in 2019 on suspicion of voyeurism, for which he received a caution.

Pearce had denied a further four counts of indecent assault, six counts of attempting an act of indecency with a child, and two counts of indecency with a child relating to 12 other children, also during the 1990s.

However, prosecutors chose to leave those charges on file following his guilty pleas. Pearce was granted conditional bail, but was warned he faces a custodial sentence when he appears for sentencing on May 29.

Do you want more of the latest Cambridgeshire news as it comes in from across the county? Sign up to our dedicated newsletter to make sure you never miss a big story from Cambridge or anywhere else in the county. You can also sign up to our dedicated Traffic and Crime newsletters for the latest updates on the topics you are most interested in .