CCTV footage which sealed Victoria Park teen rapist's fate
Charlie Pearce's relatives recognised him when the Mercury published the footage, and rang the police
Linda Steelyard
This is the CCTV footage which sealed the fate of teenage rapist and attempted murderer Charlie Pearce.
The footage was released by Leicestershire Police in the aftermath of the brutal incident, as detectives hunted for the attacker.
When the footage was published by the Leicester Mercury, Pearce's family members recognised him, and contacted the police.
The footage shows a man - later found to be Leicester teenager Pearce - running through Victoria Park at around the time of the attack.
During the trial at Leicester Crown Court, the jury heard from Pearce's family, who explained via witness statements their shock as they realised the 17-year-old was being sought in connection with the attack.
The statements were read out by the prosecutor, Gordon Aspden.
CCTV released at the time of the rape and attempted murder of a man leaving the scene in Victoria Park (Image: Leicestershire police)
WHAT THE UNCLE SAID
The defendant's uncle stated that at about 9pm on July 3, he went for a couple of drinks with his nephew in a pub before parting company at just after 10pm.
The uncle went to a fast food outlet and later chanced upon the defendant, who was outside a pub in the Clarendon Park area of the city, at some time after 10.30pm.
His nephew told him he was "waiting for some weed (cannabis)" which was not something the family approved of him doing.
The defendant was not carrying anything with him and that was the last he saw of his nephew that evening.
The following evening, July 4, the uncle's mother (the defendant's grandma) phoned him sounding "panicky" and he then looked at the Leicester Mercury website.
He said: "I looked at the still image and recognised him to be my nephew.
"I was taken aback when I saw the image of him, especially the headline that went with it."
WHAT THE FATHER SAID
The defendant's father said, in a statement, that on the morning of July 4, he went downstairs to see his son was asleep on the sofa at about 7am.
He said: "He seemed his normal self."
The father said he spent the early part of the day with his son, who then went out at about 5.30pm.
He then received a call from relatives and when he saw a video of CCTV footage in the Leicester Mercury he recognised his son "straight away."
The father went to meet the defendant and said: "You know why I'm picking you up?"
His son told him: "Yes, the Victoria Park thing."
Police at the scene (Image: Alex Hannam Photography)
He added: "I said 'Tell me it wasn't you' but he said it was him on the CCTV.
"I can't recall the exact conversation because I was under so much stress.
"I took him to our house."
He said his partner called the police and added: "I advised him he must be truthful and gave him advice as I was aware the police were on their way."
The father said his son told him he had been threatened at knifepoint by one of two males he went to buy cannabis from at Victoria Park.
He added: "He said he began to walk off and heard a scream.
"He ran back to see what was happening.
"One of the males threatened him, putting a knife to his chest and said he would hurt his family if he told anyone.
"He was talking about it as if he believed it was true.
"I asked him if he had any marks and he showed me one on his neck and one on his stomach.
"I photographed these injuries on my mobile phone (which were given to the police)."
WHAT THE STEP-MOTHER SAID
The defendant's step-mother said in her statement: "I became aware of a media appeal from the park through the Leicester Mercury regarding an attack on a girl at Victoria Park on the evening of July 3.
"I contacted the police when I saw the video of a male believed to be my step-son."
The step-mother said that on the morning of July 4 she asked the defendant how his evening the night before had been and he said: "Yeah, it was fine."
She said he told her he went to the pub with his uncle and a friend he was supposed to meet had not turned up.
Police searching the park (Image: Alex Hannam Photography)
He said he returned to their home at about 10.30pm, after the rest of the family had already gone to bed.
She described July 4 as "a normal day" with the defendant going out with his father and when publicity about the Victoria Park attack was mentioned the defendant "didn't say anything about it".
The step-mother added: "I noticed he went very quiet, he was texting a lot on his phone.
"I asked him what the matter was, what was wrong.
"He asked to go out to see a friend … and said he would be back in half an hour."
Within five minutes of him leaving, a relative phoned to say the defendant was on the footage relating to the attack.
She said: "I recognised him from the footage straight away … I could clearly see it was him jogging at the entrance of Victoria Park.
Police and PCSOs in Victoria Park (Image: Alex Hannam Photography)
"He looked to be carrying something in his hand on his right hand side, by his body.
"I think it might have been a brick or stone from what he told us.
"We were very shocked he hadn't mentioned it.
"It was described as a horrific assault.
"I thought 'God it's horrible, I hope he wasn't involved in the incident' and there would be another excuse for it."
The step-mother said when her partner brought his son home they asked him what had happened and he claimed it involved two cannabis dealers from Wigston, who he had met at the park – and had told him to bring a brick with him.
She added: "He didn't say whether or not he smoked any weed that night."
Her statement continued: "He said he went to Victoria Park and these guys and a girl were there.
"He said something was going on with the girl and he could hear she was in distress.
"The guys threatened him.
"He asked them what was going on.
Victoria Park attempted murder trial - latest news
All the evidence
Attacker named
CCTV footage
Victim's statement
"They held a knife to his stomach, said they knew where he lived and had the keys to his house.
"He showed us a little mark on the right side of his stomach; he said it was where the knife was held.
"He had a mark on his neck where he said they held a knife up to him as well.
"He said he knew something was happening in the park because he could hear the girl screaming.
"We asked him if he had anything to do with the girl and he strenuously denied he had anything to do with it."
The step-mother said that family members agreed that she should call the police, adding: "It was a really difficult situation.
"It took the police two-and-a-half hours to arrive before they could arrest him."
Leicestershire Police