PETER COCKAYNE JAILED IN GUILDFORD FOR CHILD SEX OFFENSES IN SHEERWATER

In July 2008, Peter Cockayne, a convicted sex offender from Sheerwater, was sentenced to seven years in prison after being apprehended in Spain. Cockayne had been on trial for four weeks, during which he faced accusations of sexually assaulting girls as young as 10. On May 21, he vanished before the verdict was announced.

Despite his disappearance, the jury convicted Cockayne in his absence on 11 counts of sexual activity with a child, two counts of sexual assault, and one count of indecent assault. A comprehensive manhunt involving Interpol was launched to locate him and prevent him from fleeing the country like disgraced former pop star Gary Glitter, who was believed to be heading for Thailand. Fortunately, Cockayne was eventually found and returned to Britain.

At Guildford Crown Court on Friday, he was sentenced to seven years in prison, which included 18 months specifically for failing to attend court. One of the victims expressed her anger at the sentence, warning that Cockayne remains a dangerous individual who should face a longer jail term. She stated, “Seven years is not enough at all. We have to live with this for the rest of our lives. He is a danger to society.”

Cockayne, who resided in Dartmouth Avenue, Sheerwater during many of his offenses, attempted to blame his victims, claiming they collaborated against him and re-lived their trauma in court.

His abuse began in 2000, when he was living in Wales, and continued after he moved to Sheerwater. Judge Michael Addison remarked, “From about May 1999 to about May 2006, you committed sexual offences against five different girls. You gained their friendship and perhaps their admiration as a worldly man. The fact is, you have shown no remorse. No doubt, having little hope of success before the jury, you decided to flee the country.”

As Cockayne, whose latest address was listed as Highland Road, Camberley, was taken away in custody, his victims and their families gathered outside, expressing their anger by shouting ‘rot in hell’.