PETER BUTLER CHATHAM CHILD RAPIST SENTENCED TO 14 YEARS FOR STRING OF ABUSE CASES

On October 20, 2010, a disturbing case unfolded in Maidstone Crown Court involving Peter Butler, a man from Chatham who was convicted of multiple heinous crimes against children. The court heard how Butler, aged 43, had managed to evade justice for a significant period, during which he committed a series of sexual offenses against young girls, before finally being exposed and brought to justice.

Butler faced a total of 16 charges related to sexual misconduct, but he was ultimately found guilty of 12 of these. The charges included five counts of rape, two counts of attempted rape, three counts of sexual assault, and two counts of causing a child to engage in sexual activity. He was acquitted of one charge of rape and two charges of causing a child to engage in sexual activity, but the remaining convictions painted a grim picture of his actions.

The prosecution, led by Catherine Donnelly, detailed the harrowing experiences of the victims. One girl, who was raped, eventually confided in a friend about her ordeal, which led to the matter being reported to her school welfare officer. Due to the difficulty she faced in articulating the abuse, she resorted to drawing a picture to depict what had happened to her. Miss Donnelly explained that the story of the abuse gradually came to light over an extended period, revealing the extent of Butler’s predatory behavior.

Another girl was also victimized, though her experience was described as less severe by the prosecutor. Despite this, her abuse was still considered serious and unacceptable. When Butler was arrested, he denied all allegations, maintaining his innocence throughout the proceedings.

Judge Jeremy Gold QC delivered a stern judgment, condemning Butler’s actions. He stated that Butler had used the victims as objects for his own sexual gratification and had robbed one of them of her innocence, subjecting her to humiliating and degrading acts. The judge emphasized that Butler had attempted to silence the victims by convincing one that she would not be believed by her mother, a tactic that failed in the end.

Addressing Butler directly, Judge Gold declared, “You kept her quiet by telling her, correctly, she would not be believed by her mother. But that little girl was telling the truth. You have been exposed as the paedophile you are.” The court recognized the severity of Butler’s crimes and the betrayal of trust involved.

In addition to the prison sentence, the judge noted that Butler, who had a background of being a hard-working individual and had served in the military, would be placed on the sex offenders’ register for life. This measure ensures that his presence will be monitored and that he remains under scrutiny to protect the community from further harm.