DENNIS KING: PROLIFIC PETERBOROUGH SEX OFFENDER SENTENCED AGAIN IN MARCH AND PETERBOROUGH

In a disturbing incident that unfolded in the streets of Peterborough, Dennis King, a 79-year-old man with a long and troubling history of sexual offences, was once again brought before the courts following an alarming encounter in the Bretton area of the city. The incident occurred on July 28 of this year, just months after King had been released from prison, highlighting the ongoing risks posed by individuals with extensive criminal backgrounds.

According to court reports, King approached a 14-year-old boy in Bretton, initially asking him for directions. However, the conversation took a sinister turn when King offered the young teenager money, asking, “Do you earn money, do you work? Would you like to earn cash – I’m always up for a bit of fun.” The boy, understandably alarmed by the proposition, chose to walk away and subsequently informed his mother about King’s inappropriate behaviour. The mother then contacted the police, leading to King’s arrest and subsequent court proceedings.

On the day of sentencing, King, who resides at Fountain’s Place, Eye, was sentenced to 13 months in prison after admitting to inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. The case was heard at Peterborough Crown Court, where it was revealed that King’s criminal history dates back to 1958, with a total of 31 sexual offences to his name. Despite his lengthy and serious criminal record, including convictions for gross indecency, attempted buggery, and possession of indecent images, King’s recent offence was viewed as particularly disturbing due to his prior restrictions. At the time of the Bretton incident, he had only recently been released from prison and was under a court order that prohibited him from speaking to boys under the age of 16.

During the court proceedings, King’s defence attorney, Roger Harrison, argued that his client was “not a paedophile” and suggested that his offending was a result of past abuse he had suffered as a child, describing his condition as an “illness.” However, prosecutor Cheryl Williams was unequivocal in her assessment, stating, “He is a registered sex offender managed at a very high level. Despite his senior years, he is still a danger to children.”

Judge Peter Murphy, presiding over the case, delivered a stern judgment, asserting, “It has been submitted you are not a paedophile. If that is the case, then frankly the term has no meaning, because that is exactly what you are.” The judge also emphasized the disturbing nature of King’s offer of money, describing it as a “disturbing factor” and warning that King posed a “high risk to young boys in this general age range.”

Initially, King denied any contact with the boy, but CCTV footage presented in court proved otherwise. Faced with this evidence, he pleaded guilty to the charges. As part of his sentence, King was not only imprisoned for 13 months but also ordered to remain on the sex offenders register and to continue his ban on speaking to boys under 16.

King’s criminal history is extensive, with convictions spanning over five decades. His first known sexual offence occurred in 1958, and he has served various prison terms, including periods of six months to seven years, for offences committed in Peterborough and elsewhere. Notably, in April 2013, King was sentenced for possessing indecent images of children, with authorities uncovering a significant collection of explicit material on his computers, along with photographs of naked boys displayed in his bedroom.

In that 2013 case, King, then 78, was described as a “prolific sexual offender” with 25 convictions for 63 offences, 31 of which were sexual in nature. The court heard that some of these offences dated back to the 1950s, with a history of offending that spanned over 40 years. Despite his age, King’s criminal conduct persisted, leading to multiple prison sentences and the imposition of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order in 2008.

Further back in April 2000, King was sentenced to 12 months for indecent assaults, including groping a 19-year-old in a city bail hostel shortly after his release from prison. The judge at that time warned King about the potential for a life sentence if he continued to seek sexual contact with minors, emphasizing the importance of his own responsibility in preventing further offences. King’s history also includes attempts to manipulate witnesses and multiple convictions for offences involving young boys, with some of his past sentences reaching as high as seven years.

Throughout his life, Dennis King has demonstrated a pattern of predatory behaviour, with authorities repeatedly highlighting the ongoing danger he poses to children and young teenagers. His latest conviction underscores the persistent challenge of managing and rehabilitating individuals with such extensive and serious criminal histories, especially when they continue to offend despite legal restrictions and previous incarcerations.