PETER GILLESPIE JAILED IN CHELMSFORD FOR CRIMINAL CHILD ABUSE AND POSSESSION OF EXTREME PORNOGRAPHY

In September 2017, Peter Gillespie, a 65-year-old amateur photographer from Percival Road, Kirby-le-Soken, was sentenced to prison after being convicted of possessing and distributing child abuse images, as well as filming himself sexually assaulting a young girl. Gillespie admitted to touching the genitalia of a young girl and sharing explicit videos and images of abused children online with other sex offenders.

A police raid on his home uncovered over 5,000 disturbing photographs and videos depicting child exploitation, alongside a collection of extreme animal pornography. Gillespie, who previously pleaded guilty to 26 counts, appeared before Chelmsford Crown Court on Thursday, September 14, where the prosecution detailed the extent of his crimes.

Prosecutor Marc Brown explained that police executed a warrant on June 12 after receiving information linking Gillespie to illegal material downloads. Gillespie claimed during police interviews that many of the images were part of his photography hobby. However, he was later found to have taken photographs of a girl in April 2014, including images showing her genital area, as well as pictures of himself in a state of undress and sexually assaulting her.

Further investigations revealed that Gillespie had stored these images on his camera, with his name and a copyright symbol, indicating ownership. He had not only taken these photographs but had downloaded, stored, and viewed them over the years, until his arrest in 2017. He also used GPS data embedded in the images to locate his victim within his own home and hers, indicating a targeted abuse.

Investigators discovered numerous photographs of children playing naked on beaches, as well as evidence of Gillespie engaging in online exchanges with other offenders. In a Skype conversation in May 2016, Gillespie shared three Category A images—those considered the most serious—depicting the assault of a child between the ages of eight and ten. He also distributed five Category C images in December 2016.

The prosecution outlined a library of offending material amassed by Gillespie, including 13 Category A films, 503 still images; five Category B films, 484 still images; and 62 Category C films, totaling 5,265 images and videos. Additional images showed Gillespie viewing child abuse and performing sex acts in a vehicle. It was also revealed that Gillespie had collected 47 extreme images of animals engaging in sexual acts.

Using search terms like "young girl" and "daddy’s baby princess," Gillespie sought out indecent images. Evidence also suggested he used software to evade forensic detection, raising concerns that the full extent of his offending might never be fully known.

Mitigation by defense lawyer Katie Armstrong highlighted that Gillespie’s family had disowned him and that his wife intended to divorce him post-incarceration. She noted that Gillespie had not shown remorse or accepted responsibility. A psychiatric assessment following his guilty pleas diagnosed him with paedophilia.

Judge Emma Peters QC condemned Gillespie’s actions, stating, "You clearly have a longstanding paedophilic interest. This was sexual abuse pure and simple. You took photos of it and kept them on your computer. When the police came knocking, they found these images that you retained over the course of some years. I hope when you are in prison, you will receive assistance."

Gillespie was sentenced to eight years and eight months in prison for the 26 charges. The judge emphasized the importance of considering the totality of his offenses and ordered the seizure and destruction of his devices, along with a £2,000 prosecution cost. Had Gillespie not pleaded guilty, his sentence could have exceeded 12 years.

Furthermore, Gillespie will be on the Sex Offender Register for life and subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order until death. In her remarks, Judge Peters expressed concern about the impact of such predators on public safety, saying, "People like Gillespie cause parents to fear for their children’s safety when they play outdoors or in public."

Before concluding, the judge declared, "What you have done is revolting, it’s unforgivable, it’s disgusting. I would fully understand if your family never wanted to see you again."