Convicted rapist Councillor Daryl Pitcher has shocked Wootton residents by turning up to a Parish Council meeting last night – a move branded ‘disgusting and totally unacceptable’.
The 46-year-old was found guilty of 2 counts of historic rape against a child on Monday afternoon, but just over 24 hours later he had the audacity to attend Wootton Bridge Parish Council’s meeting and even vote in matters discussed. It’s said that he vacated the Chairman’s seat for the meeting, however.
Shocked parishioners have said that Pitcher’s attendance last night was totally unacceptable. Another has simply said ‘absolutely no shame’.
At the same time that Daryll was attending last night’s parish meeting, behind the scenes other Isle of Wight councillors called on the Leader of the Isle of Wight Council to do something about the situation, as it was revealed Pitcher will remain in public office despite his conviction.
As he has not yet been sentenced, something that will take place in April, Daryll Pitcher cannot be forced out of his role as a councillor. And it doesn’t seem he is going to resign, displaying more front than Brighton.
Leader of the Conservatives on the Isle of Wight, Councillor Joe Robertson, has said:
“I think the prospect of a Councillor convicted of rape attending Council meetings is appalling.
“I have emailed him to urge him not to attend and to stand down from Licensing Committee which meets next week. He is chair of that Committee and one of the licensing principles the Committee has to consider is balance of harm to children. I think it brings the Council into disrepute by him remaining on that Committee whether he attends or not.
Article continues below this advertisement “This is a situation where Councillors need to do the right thing and speak out. I think it sends an atrocious message to women and girls across the Island, particularly those who have suffered abuse from men, if a Councillor convicted of rape attends Council meetings and the remaining Councillors stand by as if nothing has happened.
“I have asked Lora to step up and also write to Cllr Pitcher in the same terms”.
Now, Councillor Lora Peacey-Wilcox has written to Pitcher asking him to stand aside. It’s understood that an agreement has been reached that means Councillor Pitcher will not attend Council meetings, including tonight’s budget decision, but it remains to be seen whether he will keep his word.
Island Echo understands that action is being taken to seek an emergency move to remove Pitcher from all Isle of Wight Council committees if he does not resign.
UPDATE – Daryll Pitcher has resigned from all of his committee positions on the Isle of Wight Council, it has been confirmed.
He also did not attend Wednesday night’s budget meeting, sending his apologies.
This man was convicted purely on the say so of a woman who made a claim, without evidence or proof that he did something when he was a child, over 30 years ago. This can be a miscarriage of justice and an innocent man is being ruined by the councillors, the jury and the state – clearly his word didn’t matter.
each and every person on here, in the council and as jurors can easily find theirselves in the dock, because someone accused them of doing something when they were children, which they are innocent of. They all should ask themselves how they would be feeling.
Daryll is getting on with his job, as he is demonstrating to society that he is innocent and carrying on as normal – he indicated that this woman is lying –
Oh, do get real.
The jury listened to all of the testimonies from both sides and decided that he was guilty “beyond reasonable doubt”.
Pitcher is a double rapist.
End of story.
so, they based their decision on the better story teller – priceless.
None of us now what went on in the court room the jury came back 11 to 1 I want to know how many female jurors sat not sexist before any one says but I know someone that wasnt even in the same town at a time he was accused of sexual assault and he got prison time the jury on hes case was 10 female 2 Male one of the men same surname as plaintiff the 2 alternatives were female he lost before it began and what darryl is doing is right just carry on otherwise it will drive him crazy and damage hes health mentally and for people to be putting him in same category as a child abuser your so wrong two 13 or old kids fooling around it’s what kids do
Wow… so you’re defending a rapist convicted by a jury? Think you need to rethink things a bit.
no sam – I am pointing out the flaw in the process – which is that there is zero evidence to back up what either of them say and as such there is the likelyhood that a miscarriage of justice could have happened.
just because they believed her uncorroborated version of events, doesn’t mean she isn’t lying through her teeth
The process has been followed, and he was found guilty. But who am I to argue with protectors or rapists, you people are clearly mad.
just because they followed a process – still doesn’t mean that she isn’t lying – she just told a better story.
do not sit there insulting people and accusing them of suffering with a mental illness, which quite frankly is insulting, because they offer a rational and opposing view to yours sam.
truth and the others, such as wighter etc are stating facts about the lack of evidence and a jury believing one story over another, which leaves the probability of a miscarriage of justice on the high side.
Says someone sitting there insulting a rape victim by saying she lied.
Daryl Pitcher is a convicted double rapist. It doesn’t matter how much you and his other little friends try to protest his innocence the fact is he’s as guilty as **** and as anyone who has met the slimy little toad can well believe.
Thankfully his pudgy fat face is easily recognisable so women will be able to avoid him easily enough.
do you have any proof that she didn’t lie …no I didn’t think so.
Keep desperately defending a rapist, shows your true colours.
And do you have any proof he didn’t. Silly comment.
So in your comment you contradict yourself as you rightly state “there is zero evidence to what either of them say” BUT then go on to suggest “she isn’t lying through her teeth”. You can’t have it both ways!! You agree there is “zero evidence” so think about what you wrote there.
Let’s all pray he gets locked up for 5yrs+
He has been convicted of an action from over 30 years ago that he stood no chance of defending himself against, 2 teenage kids exploring their sexuality, why were the authorities and parents not informed at the time, yes they were underage but is that really so abhorrent, if violence was involved then surely parents etc would have been told , this current woke “me too” generation are too quick to accuse and condemn because it’s so easy from behind a keyboard.
Oh please.
It wasn’t “2 kids exploring their sexuality”, the evidence made that clear. Pitcher forced her to have sex against her will. That is rape and Pitcher is a rapist.
End of story.
As for the rest of your gibberish?
Why didn’t Rolf Harris’, Garry, Glitter’s, Jimmy Saville’s or Stuart Hall’s victims come forward at the time? Why did they wait so long to reveal what happened to them? If you think Pitcher should be excused because his victim waited so long I assume you must also feel the same about the victims of those vile people for the same reason.
As for your keyboard warrior comment? Come on then. Name yourself. Easy to support a convicted sex offender when you are anonymous, isn’t it?
there is no proof smiffy that any of this happened and no proof that this child was forced to have sex with another child, against her will.
please stop blindly following the sheep – no evidence or proof of anything was ever submitted – it was all supposition and his word against hers, nothing more. you do realise that miscarriages of justice do happen.
perhaps someone accuses you of something like this, that you didn’t do and then see how you feel in the dock, powerless to prevent the process from wrecking your life.
I’m not going to end up in the dock accused of something like this because I treat women with respect and always have done.
How about you?
smiffy – your naivety is on show for all to see – how about a woman making something up against you, for any number of reasons. It happens every day around the world to so many people.
you can treat someone as nice as you want, doesn’t stop them lying about you, if that is their desire
As for your keyboard warrior comment? Come on then. Name yourself. Easy to support a convicted sex offender when you are anonymous, isn’t it?
..
not exactly using your real name are you –
I’m not the one claiming that a rape victim is lying.
the evidence made that clear
what evidence would that be smiffy – because none was ever presented.
Enough was presented to convince 11 decent people that he was guilty beyond reasonable doubt.
very sad opinion smiffy – you say 11 decent people – are you saying that the one person who felt that the story told wasn’t strong enough to convict isn’t decent – are you saying the judicial process is flawed in jury selection – if so, then it goes without saying that those 11 may not have been the right people either
not doing yourself any favours here smiffy
I think he said it didn’t happen. You seem to be giving another version of events compared with those given by the two involved.
Pretty rich for a Tory to complain about low moral behaviour?
No doubt the Vectis Party will mop up a few more votes.
In his position as a Councillor he must have contact with children and vulnerable adults.
Surely he wouldn’t pass an extended DBS check with a conviction for rape.
The conviction is historical. He is the best councillor Wootton has had for years and seems to be the only one who actually does anything to help the community. I’m not saying that it doesn’t need addressing, but by removing him it is a disservice to the people of Wootton. Also I would suggest that by turning up to the meeting it shows the mettle of the man – he clearly feels that things to be attended in the community matter to him than the embarrassment he must feel. Obviously his actions were wrong, but this was thirty years ago. In the intervening thirty years he has not only grown up, but has become one of the few who actually put their money where their mouth is and got up and done something for others.
Thankfully most people don’t think like you do. Pitcher’s political career won’t survive the next elections whatever you think.
He’s a convicted rapist, stop defending the indefensible.
Some people are a pain should done something about it 30yrs ago attention seeking
WTF. Found guilty but still out and about like nothing happened.Lock him up an throw the keys away get this scum out of society.
The amount of people defending a convicted rapists actions really does open your eyes to the type of people that frequent this website, and the Island? Everyone defending him should really be ashamed of themselves, I hope you never have to deal with a similar incident with one of your family members.
I hope that you never find yourself in the dock accused of doing something that you didn’t do and have to look at others sneering at you, when you are innocent – happens every day around the world sam -and well you know it.
I, too, wonder why this site attracts so many such people.
Or maybe I don’t.
I cannot believe the amount of people voting down on truth, wighter, flemmo and others messages that give a balanced view of things -do all these people who voted down their messages, live in some sort of cloud cuckoo utopia
each and everyone of them, can easily fall victim to a malicious liar at any stage in their lives – they really need to ask theirselves if they are being to naive in a world of dubious characters.
Yeah, a “cloud cuckoo utopia” where women can see their attacker convicted without scumbag misogynists making excuses for the filth that raped her.
Ama – history is littered with cases of women being found out for lying, just to get back at a man for dumping her – in recent times the text messaging history on the womans phone has been her undoing.
i find it equally disgusting that you seem to think that just because a woman says something – it must be right. well it isn’t and some women are quite happy to engage in misandry and lie all the way, to destroy a man for no real reason.
this woman waited 30 years and then “alleged” that something happened, without proof. I have personally met people who have been on juries and it explains why I see some of the stupidest decisions reached and why so many end up appealing or have the sentence quashed later on.
Gosh – you’re a real woman hater aren’t you.
Rapist .resign how can you show your face hope you go to prison end of
Why would you believe a woman over a man?
Um, have you watched recent episodes of EastEnders, or is that any different, given that it involves a 12-year-old’s pregnancy?
Just checking… you do realise Eastenders is fiction… right?!
You just lost any credibility with that comment lol
Even if it is here say there’s no smoke without fire. It should have been dealt with then really. He’s got away with it all these years at least own it and apologise in some way of defend the accusations because it always be a questionable state of affairs and people won’t trust him, well apart from the obvious bury my head in the sand idiots on here!
there is no actual proof that he did anything – just her word
What is “actual proof”? In this situation (or any if you ponder it deeply), there can be no irrefutable proof. We rely on the word of others for so much and we can be easily led by falsehoods and misconceptions. We even “remember” false memories from our past that are reshaped by time and the comments/opinions/poor recollections of others. So “her word” and “his word” are all that the jury had to work with. To reach a decision each jury member should have no “reasonable doubt”, which seems impossible in this case. Watch “Twelve Angry Men” for an example of how biased attitudes can shape decisions, and how it takes a strong character with a sense of fairness and decency to ensure justice. This case was all about the opinions of jury members.
So by your logic – there’s no actual proof he didn’t not do something? Thank goodness we have a justice system with a jury of our peers to asses the evidence. But I suppose it’s easier for you just to defend a rapist!
The “logic” applies in both cases. Pitcher could just as easily have convinced himself that nothing happened and actually believe himself. The “jury of our peers” is a bunch of people selected at random who are asked to make a decision based on what they hear in a courtroom. There is no irrefutable proof and they just decide who they believe. Given some of the comments on here, that decision could easily be based on “he looks a bit rapey to me”. Trial by jury is imperfect but the only option available.
Who are you? Why are you defending him? Why would she lie and make herself go through all this it must’ve eaten away at her for years and to see him be in a position in society with no remorse made her feel she had to speak up to protect herself and others or would you rather not know his sordid secret? Or is that what this is about? You think it’s ok and you live by the same principle?
trauma around things such as sexual assault and rape can take years to process, especially for a child or young person. It’s not unusual for victims of abuse to close these things off until they’re able to process them, usually as an adult.