PETER HURTT: DANGEROUS PETERBOROUGH PAEDOPHILE FIGHTS FOR FREEDOM

In a case that has spanned over a decade, Peter Hurtt, a man with a long history of sexual offenses in Peterborough, remains incarcerated despite his efforts to secure an early release. Hurtt, now 52 years old and residing on Saville Road in Peterborough, was convicted of multiple sexual assaults against young girls and has been deemed a significant threat to the community.

His criminal activities date back to 1980, with a notable rape committed in Glasgow in 1988. Over the years, Hurtt’s pattern of predatory behavior persisted, leading to numerous convictions and restrictions. In 2004, following previous sex offenses, he was subjected to a sexual offences prevention order that explicitly prohibited him from entering children’s play parks and engaging with minors.

In 2005, Hurtt targeted two girls, both under the age of 13, in a park in Peterborough. He was arrested and subsequently admitted to the sexual assaults, which resulted in a court sentencing him to serve a minimum of three years in prison. Despite serving this minimum term, Hurtt’s incarceration was extended indefinitely when he was handed an imprisonment for public protection at Peterborough Crown Court in July 2006. This sentence, nearly equivalent to a life sentence, was imposed after he admitted to two sexual assaults and violations of his sexual offences prevention order.

His criminal record is extensive, including a history of ‘predatory sexual offending’ against both girls and boys. The court heard that Hurtt’s offenses included a rape in Glasgow and multiple breaches of court orders designed to protect the public. The indefinite sentence was justified by the court, with Sir Richard Henriques emphasizing that Hurtt’s continued risk to the community warranted such measures.

In December 2005, Hurtt preyed on two young girls in a Peterborough park, both under 13. His actions included stalking and indecent assault, which led to his arrest. His legal representatives argued that his sentence was disproportionate, claiming there was no evidence of escalating severity in his offending. However, the court dismissed these claims, reaffirming the dangerous nature of Hurtt’s behavior and the necessity of his continued detention.

Further incidents include a 2006 case where Hurtt was accused of assaulting a prison officer while serving time at HMP Peterborough. He was cleared of this charge after the prosecution offered no evidence, and the court accepted that the prison officer had withdrawn the complaint. Prior to this, Hurtt had been convicted of indecently assaulting a 12-year-old girl in Peterborough and was again sentenced to a minimum of three years in prison.

Throughout his criminal career, Hurtt has been under strict supervision, including bans from visiting children’s play areas and restrictions on contact with females under 21. Despite these measures, he continued to pose a threat, prompting the authorities to seek his continued detention. Detective Constable Peter Heslop from the Public Protection Unit expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision, highlighting that Hurtt will only be released when he is no longer considered a danger to children.

Hurtt’s case remains a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by the justice system in managing repeat offenders and protecting vulnerable members of society in Peterborough.