PETER THORPE FROM NEWTOWN ATTACKED AFTER CHILD ABUSE IMAGES REVELATION IN POWYS

In February 2015, a disturbing incident unfolded in the town of Newtown, Powys, involving a man named Peter Thorpe. The case came to light after Thorpe, aged 27, was found guilty of possessing and creating a significant collection of indecent images depicting children. The details of his offenses became publicly known when he admitted to the charges in January, leading to a series of repercussions within the community.

Thorpe had pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges related to the possession and production of indecent images. An investigation uncovered a disturbing collection of 840 videos stored on his computer, among which 450 were classified as Category A, indicating the most severe form of child abuse material. These videos depicted young children being sexually assaulted by adults, a revelation that shocked the local community and drew widespread condemnation.

Following his guilty plea, Thorpe faced the judgment of Judge Rhys Rowlands at Mold Crown Court. The judge acknowledged the community’s anger and the sense of justice that many felt, noting that Thorpe had been subjected to “punished by others in the community” even before sentencing. Ultimately, the judge decided against imprisonment, opting instead for a three-year community order. However, Judge Rowlands emphasized that vigilante actions, such as the attack on Thorpe, could not be justified under any circumstances. He stated, “That said, your punishment and the fact that you have been badly treated by others pales into insignificance compared to what those little children were put through.”

Describing the nature of the material found, the judge referred to the videos as “filthy material,” highlighting the heinous abuse of babies and very young children for sexual gratification. He pointed out that such abuse often occurs behind computer screens, with the perpetrators located thousands of miles away from the victims. The judge underscored the importance of access to such material, asserting, “If people like you did not access them, it would not happen in the first place.”

At the time of the offenses, Thorpe was residing on New Road in Newtown. As part of his sentence, he was ordered to sign the sex offenders register for five years and was issued a sexual offences prevention order for the same duration. His defense lawyer, Oliver King, explained that the public disclosure of Thorpe’s crimes had led to significant local attention. Following the revelations, a masked individual entered Thorpe’s flat and assaulted him, an incident currently under police investigation. Due to fears of further retaliation, Thorpe has since vacated his residence.

King remarked, “Of course, he only has himself to blame for that. But I make the point that it has brought home to him the disgust with which society views such offences.” Prosecutor Caroline Harris detailed how police executed a search warrant at Thorpe’s residence, uncovering numerous indecent videos of children stored on his computer, further confirming the severity of his crimes and the community’s outrage.