PETER CLULOW'S SHOCKING CRIMES IN ELSTREE, HATFIELD, AND HEMEL HEMPSTEAD REVEALED

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the communities of Elstree, Hatfield, and Hemel Hempstead, Peter Clulow, a 72-year-old man with a disturbing history of abusing young boys, has been sentenced to 27 months in prison for a series of heinous sexual offenses. Clulow, who now resides in Hatfield, previously lived in Elstree and Hemel Hempstead, and his criminal activities span over decades, involving multiple victims and a pattern of manipulation and exploitation.

Clulow's criminal history dates back to the 1980s when he was employed as a teacher at Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School, located on Butterfly Lane in Elstree. During his tenure there, which lasted for 23 years until 1985, he was accused by two teenage boys of molestation. Following these allegations, Clulow resigned from his position, and although he was banned from working at any boys' schools, authorities failed to prevent him from continuing to offer private tuition, which provided him access to more vulnerable children.

It was during private mathematics lessons that Clulow's predatory behavior persisted. He exploited his role as a tutor and sailing instructor, often taking boys on trips aboard his boat, The Saraband, docked in Portsmouth. These sailing trips became a setting for further abuse, with Clulow claiming he could hypnotize his victims. Evidence presented in court revealed that during one such trip, a 16-year-old boy was assaulted while pretending to be hypnotized. The abuse was not an isolated incident; police later uncovered that Clulow had assaulted at least three boys in total, all of whom sought his help with their studies.

One of the victims, aged 16 at the time, recounted how Clulow had hypnotized him and then sexually assaulted him between 2000 and 2001. The predator would manipulate the boys by holding their hands and forcing them to do the same to him, creating an environment of coercion and control. The youngest victim, aged 15, was also hypnotized and instructed to perform self-fondling after Clulow falsely claimed he had undergone a sex change to become a woman. Police investigations uncovered a secret video at Clulow's home, where he was heard encouraging a young boy to play with his breasts and asking if it felt 'good.'

Clulow's criminal activities extended beyond physical assaults. When he was arrested in September 2006, authorities discovered numerous pornographic images of adolescent boys on his computer. His guilty plea included five counts of indecent assault on a male, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and 16 counts of possessing indecent images of children, including one particularly disturbing image of a young child. These revelations underscored the extent of his depravity and the danger he posed to children.

During the court proceedings, Clulow's defense argued that he believed hypnotizing his victims would prevent them from suffering the full extent of his abuse. They also highlighted that he had since acknowledged the harm caused and had sought help through his church, which supported him. The defense emphasized that Clulow was a respected individual who had contributed positively to his community and had even helped others with literacy while in prison.

However, Judge Stephen Warner delivered a stern judgment, condemning Clulow for abusing his position of trust as a teacher and a sailing instructor. The judge pointed out that Clulow's actions were a betrayal of the trust placed in him by the boys and their parents, and that his abuse had been ongoing for years. He noted that Clulow's departure from the school in 1985 did not prevent him from continuing to teach privately, despite the earlier prohibition.

Clulow will serve half of his 27-month sentence before being eligible for release. His 214 days spent on remand will be credited towards his sentence. Additionally, he has been ordered to register as a sex offender, and a sexual offences prevention order has been imposed. This order grants police access to his computer and prohibits him from taking photographs of anyone under 18, further restricting his ability to reoffend.

In conclusion, the case of Peter Clulow highlights the tragic failure of systems meant to protect children and underscores the importance of vigilance and accountability in safeguarding vulnerable individuals from predators hiding behind trusted roles.