PETER CROWHURST OF WANTAGE CAUGHT WITH INDECENT CHILD IMAGES IN OXFORDSHIRE

On August 22, 1996, a serious criminal case emerged involving Peter Crowhurst, a computer scientist residing in Wantage, Oxfordshire. The authorities charged him with possessing indecent photographs of children at his residence located in Mallard Way, Grove, South Oxfordshire. The charges were brought under section 160 of the 1988 Criminal Justice Act, highlighting the severity of the offense.

Wantage police officials revealed that all the children depicted in the images were under the age of 16. However, they clarified that there was no indication that these children were local to the Wantage or Grove area. The investigation suggested a possible link between Crowhurst’s profession in the field of computers and the nature of the crimes, hinting that the images may have been related to his work or online activities.

The discovery of Crowhurst’s disturbing obsession was made after police were alerted to his unexplained absence from work for several days. When authorities broke into his home, they found him intoxicated and surrounded by a collection of pornography. The evidence uncovered included videos, magazines, photographs, and computer-generated images depicting children in indecent poses. It was revealed that Crowhurst had sourced many of these images from the Internet and had manipulated some of them using computer software to remove clothing and add genitalia, further emphasizing the disturbing nature of his activities.

During the court proceedings at Wantage Magistrates Court, prosecutor Susan Worth detailed the extent of the evidence. She described the scene as chaotic, with the bed area cluttered with rubbish and numerous pictures. A thorough search of Crowhurst’s residence uncovered a significant quantity of photographs, negatives, and computer-generated pseudo-photos obtained from the Internet. Authorities also found indecent photographs and video footage, all pointing to a pattern of illicit activity spanning several years.

Crowhurst, who has since moved to Essex, admitted to the charges of taking indecent photographs, possessing such images, and creating indecent pseudo-photographs. His offenses were committed over a period from January 1980 up until August 1996, indicating a long-standing pattern of criminal behavior.

Defending counsel John Arnold argued that while most of the images were indecent, they did not reach the level of obscenity. He emphasized that there was no specific victim involved and no physical harm caused, characterizing the case as a “sad” but not violent or injurious situation. The case continues to highlight the serious concerns surrounding the possession and creation of child pornography, especially involving individuals in sensitive professions like Crowhurst’s.