PETER ATKINSON FROM GRAVESEND ESCAPES JAIL AFTER SEX OFFENDER CASE IN MAIDSTONE

In March 2002, a serious case involving a local sex offender from Gravesend drew significant attention at Maidstone Crown Court. Peter Atkinson, a 40-year-old businessman residing on The Avenue in Gravesend, was involved in a disturbing series of offences that included the creation and possession of indecent images of a minor. Despite the gravity of his actions, Atkinson was not sentenced to prison but was instead given a community rehabilitation order, a decision that sparked considerable debate and concern.

According to court records, Atkinson faced five charges related to possessing indecent photographs of a child, along with three additional charges for producing such images. The court heard that Atkinson, who had professional ties to the Ministry of Defence, was also a youth organisation instructor at the time he encountered the teenage victim. The victim, a boy aged between 13 and 15, was filmed secretly by Atkinson on three separate occasions within his own home. These recordings depicted the boy performing sexual acts, a revelation that shocked the court and the community alike.

Authorities seized a substantial collection of obscene images from Atkinson’s residence, where he lived with his parents. The court was informed that the videos and images were produced in a private setting, raising questions about the extent of Atkinson’s involvement and the potential harm caused to the victim.

During the proceedings, defense lawyer John O’Higgins argued that Atkinson had initially befriended the boy with genuine intentions, even assisting him with work-related matters. However, the defense also acknowledged that Atkinson later installed a video monitoring system in his bedroom, which was used to secretly record the victim. O’Higgins emphasized the damaging impact of public exposure, stating, “Nothing can be more destructive than becoming known through substantial publicity that he is a suspected paedophile. There have been times when his family has been under a state of siege. That has been a bitter experience.”

Judge Warwick McKinnon, presiding over the case, decided to impose a community punishment order for three years. Additionally, Atkinson was ordered to participate in a sex offenders’ rehabilitation program. The judge acknowledged Atkinson’s prior voluntary work within the community but expressed disappointment over his actions, remarking, “It is a pity you have brought upon yourself such shame and, indeed, directly on your family. You were sucked into perverse temptation, no doubt by a defect of your personality, by purveyors of this insidious trade. You must have been glued to your computer screen watching this filthy material hour after hour.”

While the judge noted that a custodial sentence of up to 18 months might typically be considered, he chose a more lenient approach, citing the circumstances and Atkinson’s previous good deeds. Nevertheless, he mandated that Atkinson remain on the sex offenders’ register for five years, underscoring the seriousness of his offences and the ongoing risk to the community.