A man serving a life sentence for one of the North East's most harrowing child abduction cases could be released from prison next month, sparking renewed concern for public safety.
The Horrific Christmas Crime
Peter Voisey was convicted of rape, sexual assault and abduction at Newcastle Crown Court in 2006. His crimes, committed on December 27, 2005, sent shockwaves through the community of Willington Quay, North Tyneside.
Voisey crept into a family's flat through the back door while a six-year-old girl was playing in the bath. He placed his hand over her mouth to silence her, snatched her from the water, and forced her into his red Vauxhall Astra.
He then drove the child away and subjected her to two horrific sex attacks. Afterwards, he abandoned her, naked and crying for her mother, in a dark, freezing back lane just streets from her home.
The Investigation and Trial
The investigation quickly led to Voisey. Partial shoe prints left on the wet bathroom floor provided crucial evidence. His claimed alibi of buying cannabis collapsed when friends refused to support his story.
Police also recovered his diary, where the entry for the day of the attack chillingly read: "Phew, it’s over. Chill now." Jurors at his trial were reportedly brought to tears hearing the details of the young victim's ordeal.
The child was rescued by local man Geoffrey Brown, who heard her cries from his home on Armstrong Road, brought her inside from the cold, and called the police.
Life Sentence and Looming Parole Decision
Sentencing Voisey to life with a minimum term of 10 years, Judge David Hodson warned the predator he might never be released. However, a Parole Board panel is now set to decide his fate at an oral hearing scheduled for February.
This will be Voisey's sixth parole review. A Parole Board spokesperson stated that their decision would be "solely focused on what risk a prisoner could represent to the public if released and whether that risk is manageable in the community."
The panel will examine a vast dossier of evidence, including the original crime details, victim impact statements, and reports on Voisey's behaviour and progress in prison from probation officers, psychiatrists, and psychologists.
The crime left the victim severely traumatised and cast a long shadow of fear over the local community. The upcoming hearing will determine whether the authorities believe Peter Voisey is now safe to walk the streets again.
