Courts / Cork / Report
Circus worker who defiled girl (15) is jailed
Summary
In a Co Cork town, Bulgarian circus worker Ivan Peev, aged 34, pleaded guilty to defiling a 15‑year‑old girl in February 2015. The victim, who was heavily intoxicated, was taken to a tent or caravan where Peev lifted her onto a bed, undressed her and had sex with her. She described feeling "pissed" and "three quarters asleep" and later said she could not bring herself to scream about the incident. Peev had travelled with a circus for nine months a year and returned to Bulgaria with his family. He had no prior convictions. Mr Justice Michael White, hearing the case at the Central Criminal Court, imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year custodial sentence, back‑dated to October 2014 when Peev first entered custody. The judge noted the offence had caused the victim great difficulty and that Peev's guilty plea had spared her the ordeal of giving evidence and cross‑examination.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Circus worker who defiled girl (15) is jailed. Charges or matters: defilement of the girl in a Co Cork town on a date in February 2015; this offence in June. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- February 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
- March 2016 Incident
- 2018-07-30 Publication
Case subjects
Applicant
Charges: defilement of the girl in a Co Cork town on a date in February 2015; this offence in June (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: The judge took into account Peev's previous good character and the fact that serving a custodial sentence would be more difficult for him as a foreign national with poor English. Mr Justice White imposed a two and a half year sentence which he backdated to last October when Peev first went into custody.
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
- local garda station
Topics
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