PETER BIRD FROM CROWLAND AND SUTTON JAILED FOR CHILD INDECENCY CRIMES

In a disturbing case that has shocked the communities of Crowland and Sutton, Peter Bird, a 72-year-old former parish councillor, has been convicted of possessing and viewing a large collection of indecent images of children. The investigation was initiated after authorities uncovered nearly 600 illicit images stored on devices belonging to Bird, leading to his arrest and subsequent sentencing.

According to court reports, police executed a search warrant at Bird’s residence on East Street in Crowland last October. The operation was prompted by intelligence indicating that Bird’s IP address had downloaded a category B indecent image of a child. The authorities acted swiftly, and during the raid, Bird was present at his home and immediately acknowledged the reason for their visit, stating, “I know why you’re here.”

Officers seized various electronic devices, including computers and memory sticks, which were later examined by forensic experts. The analysis revealed a disturbing collection: 52 images classified as Category A, the most serious level, 109 images in Category B, and 432 images in Category C. These images depicted children in various states of abuse, with some as young as five years old.

During police interviews, Bird admitted to visiting a website where he moved images from a memory stick onto his computer for viewing. He confessed to making indecent images of children between January 2015 and October 2015, and possessing images from 2013 through 2016. Bird’s history as a community figure included serving as a parish councillor in Crowland for four years and working as a special constable for two decades. However, following his arrest, Bird resigned from his council position and other community roles, including his involvement with Crowland in Bloom.

Additional personal details emerged during the proceedings. Bird, who now resides in Sutton, Surrey, had recently been assaulted outside a local pub in Crowland. He also announced plans to relocate with his wife away from Crowland, citing safety concerns and the impact of his arrest.

In court, Bird pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including making Category A indecent images between January and October 2015, and creating Category B and C images from 2013 to 2016. The judge, Mr. Justice Heath, emphasized the gravity of the crimes, stating, “Real children are abused in the manufacture of this material,” and highlighted Bird’s prior service to the community. Despite his previous roles, the court found his actions deeply reprehensible.

As part of his sentence, Bird was ordered to register as a sex offender for ten years and was subjected to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. He was sentenced to eight months in prison. The judge underscored the seriousness of the offenses, noting Bird’s intelligence and community service history, but ultimately condemning his involvement in viewing and possessing such harmful material.