Gregory Pace: Preston pervert leaves women scared, anxious
Several women have revealed how they no longer feel comfortable walking the streets of Preston after they were harassed by a local sex offender. And the sicko has little care for his victims, a court has heard.
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The sickening actions of a Reservoir pervert have left his multiple victims distressed and fearful months after he was put behind bars, a court has heard.
Gregory Pace’s three most recent victims say they have all been severely changed by his June and July crimes, and still feel unsafe travelling the streets alone in their own neighbourhood.
Pace, 43, was sentenced to seven months’ jail when he fronted Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, September 30, having pleaded guilty to charges including sexual activity directed towards another person.
The serial sex offender followed two of his victims as they walked down a Preston street about 7.30am on July 11 while touching his genitalia.
He pursued them as they crossed the street to get away from him, then when they reached the end of the street, they turned to see Pace behind them performing a sex act, with his tracksuit pants around his knees.
Hours later he was seen sitting in a Preston hotel’s carpark, performing a sex act.
Two weeks earlier he followed a woman on foot as she parked her car in Preston about 9.30am, then stood across the road from her and performed a sex act while smirking at her.
Three victims gave statements to the court revealing how the incidents had dramatically impacted their mental health.
One woman said she had previously loved exercising on her own in Preston, but now didn’t feel comfortable being out alone.
“I do not feel safe,” her statement read.
The court heard she was more vigilant, suspicious of others and angry that she’d lost a valuable method of enjoyment during the COVID-19 lockdown.
The second victim said the incident had been disturbing, upsetting and she had become afraid of being out alone.
She revealed she was angry she now felt vulnerable and scared walking near home, and the third woman said she too felt violated and unsafe as a woman on her own.
Lawyer Emily Austin previously told the court Pace was an unemployed Indigenous man whose IQ was so low he was borderline intellectually disabled.
She said drug addiction was behind his offending
Magistrate Denise Livingstone said a psychological report provided to the court revealed Pace, who had extensive and relevant prior convictions, had little appreciation for his impact on his victims.
Ms Livingstone said she hoped he could realise and stop the behaviour.
“They’re terrified from what you did,” she said.
It was noted Pace had already served 81 days of his sentence.
He is on the sex offenders register for life.
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