PETER OWEN FROM BADDELEY GREEN SENTENCED FOR HISTORIC CHILD SEX OFFENSES INSPIRED BY JIMMY SAVILE SCANDAL

In a case that has shocked the local community of Baddeley Green and the wider Stoke-on-Trent area, a pensioner named Peter Owen has been convicted and sentenced for a series of historic child sex crimes committed over three decades ago. The crimes, which involved indecent assaults on young schoolgirls, came to light only after Owen himself decided to come forward and confess, a decision heavily influenced by the widespread revelations surrounding the late Jimmy Savile.

Owen, now aged 67, appeared before Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court to admit to the offences, which spanned a period of approximately 30 years. His decision to turn himself in was prompted by the emotional impact of listening to the testimonies of Savile’s victims, which stirred feelings of guilt and remorse within him. The court heard that the two specific indecent assaults, which took place during his youth, would likely have remained undisclosed had Owen not taken the initiative to report himself to the authorities.

During the hearing, Owen pleaded guilty to both charges. The court was informed that his cooperation with law enforcement was a significant factor in the sentencing decision. Judge Paul Glenn acknowledged Owen’s remorse, stating, “I am satisfied that you are remorseful for what you did. You displayed that with your cooperation with the authorities.” The judge also pointed out the disturbing nature of the offences, noting that the first victim was young, but that Owen was also a young man at the time. The second offence involved an adult, indicating premeditation and a pattern of targeting vulnerable young girls over an extended period.

Judge Glenn emphasized that the offences were serious, involving a breach of trust and a pattern of predatory behavior. However, he also recognized Owen’s decision to come forward as a mitigating factor, stating, “Without this, it is unlikely these allegations would have surfaced.” As a result, Owen was sentenced to three and a half years in prison.

Representing Owen, defense attorney Catherine O’Reilly described her client as “distraught” upon learning that his victims had been required to give statements to police following his confession. She explained that Owen’s remorse was genuine and that the Jimmy Savile scandal had played a significant role in motivating him to confess multiple times before finally doing so publicly. O’Reilly highlighted that the victims had managed to move past their trauma to some extent, though the process of recalling and recounting their experiences was painful for them.

She further conveyed that Owen was deeply distressed by the knowledge of the victims’ police interviews and statements, believing that coming clean was his way of accepting responsibility and seeking redemption. The defense emphasized that the offences occurred many years ago and that Owen’s age and remorse made this a unique case. She acknowledged that any custodial sentence would be challenging for him but affirmed his readiness to accept the consequences of his actions.

Jimmy Savile, once a prominent BBC presenter known for shows like “Top of the Pops” and “Jim’ll Fix It,” was posthumously revealed to have committed widespread sexual abuse. Allegations surfaced a year after his death in October 2011 at the age of 84, revealing that he had exploited hundreds of victims, including children, at various institutions. Investigations initially focused on NHS hospitals such as Broadmoor, Stoke Mandeville, and Leeds General Infirmary, but later expanded to include ten additional trusts, uncovering a disturbing pattern of abuse that shocked the nation and prompted a wave of victim testimonies.