PETER HALE FROM PURLEY CAUGHT WITH CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AT CROYLON CROWN COURT
| Red Rose Database
Purley Child Sexual Abuser
In April 2006, a disturbing case unfolded involving Peter Hale, a 46-year-old man residing on Whytecliffe Road in Purley, who faced serious allegations related to the possession of indecent images of children. The incident came to light when Hale’s estranged wife, Suzie Hale, discovered the illicit material on his computer, leading to a police investigation that revealed troubling details about his activities.
According to court proceedings at Croydon Crown Court, Hale was charged with possessing 17 indecent images of children. The court heard that the couple had been temporarily separated in September of the previous year, during which time Hale was not residing at their shared home. It was during this period that Suzie Hale, while browsing through her husband's computer, was shocked to find child pornography images appearing on the screen. The discovery prompted her to report the matter to the police, who promptly seized Hale’s hard drive and related discs for examination.
Prosecutor Philip Jones explained that Hale was summoned to Croydon police station, where he was interviewed about his activities. During the initial interview, Hale admitted that he had viewed the images out of curiosity and had downloaded some of them. An expert analysis of the seized material revealed that Hale had stored approximately 284 images and around 60 video clips depicting child exploitation. Following this, Hale was interviewed again, and this time he was more forthcoming about his online behavior.
Mr. Jones stated, “He was now more frank and he said he had accessed sites. Initially it had been curiosity but it continued for 18 months. He had not engaged in any kind of distribution, but he acknowledged he had a problem and was receiving counselling.”
Defense lawyer Lindsey Thompson emphasized that Hale had not engaged in obsessive storage or sharing of the images. She explained that Hale had a history of addiction, having previously struggled with Class A drug dependency in his youth, and later developed an addiction to pornography. She argued that the child pornography was used by Hale as a means of seeking new sexual highs, but stressed that he had taken steps toward rehabilitation.
Thompson added, “In his younger life he had an addiction to class A drugs while, near middle-age, he developed an addiction to pornography there were adult images on the computer. The child porn was a way of seeking new highs. He accepts he used them for sexual gratification, but he has done all he can to rehabilitate himself. He is reconciled with his wife and they have been back together since November, working together to repair their marriage.”
As a consequence of his actions, Hale faced significant repercussions. He lost his position as a drugs and alcohol adviser with the Prison Service, a role in which he had previously used his personal experiences to assist inmates. The court, presided over by Judge Stephen Waller, ordered Hale to participate in a sex offenders’ rehabilitation program run by the probation service. Additionally, Hale was placed on the sex offenders register for five years and was ordered to pay costs amounting to £105.
According to court proceedings at Croydon Crown Court, Hale was charged with possessing 17 indecent images of children. The court heard that the couple had been temporarily separated in September of the previous year, during which time Hale was not residing at their shared home. It was during this period that Suzie Hale, while browsing through her husband's computer, was shocked to find child pornography images appearing on the screen. The discovery prompted her to report the matter to the police, who promptly seized Hale’s hard drive and related discs for examination.
Prosecutor Philip Jones explained that Hale was summoned to Croydon police station, where he was interviewed about his activities. During the initial interview, Hale admitted that he had viewed the images out of curiosity and had downloaded some of them. An expert analysis of the seized material revealed that Hale had stored approximately 284 images and around 60 video clips depicting child exploitation. Following this, Hale was interviewed again, and this time he was more forthcoming about his online behavior.
Mr. Jones stated, “He was now more frank and he said he had accessed sites. Initially it had been curiosity but it continued for 18 months. He had not engaged in any kind of distribution, but he acknowledged he had a problem and was receiving counselling.”
Defense lawyer Lindsey Thompson emphasized that Hale had not engaged in obsessive storage or sharing of the images. She explained that Hale had a history of addiction, having previously struggled with Class A drug dependency in his youth, and later developed an addiction to pornography. She argued that the child pornography was used by Hale as a means of seeking new sexual highs, but stressed that he had taken steps toward rehabilitation.
Thompson added, “In his younger life he had an addiction to class A drugs while, near middle-age, he developed an addiction to pornography there were adult images on the computer. The child porn was a way of seeking new highs. He accepts he used them for sexual gratification, but he has done all he can to rehabilitate himself. He is reconciled with his wife and they have been back together since November, working together to repair their marriage.”
As a consequence of his actions, Hale faced significant repercussions. He lost his position as a drugs and alcohol adviser with the Prison Service, a role in which he had previously used his personal experiences to assist inmates. The court, presided over by Judge Stephen Waller, ordered Hale to participate in a sex offenders’ rehabilitation program run by the probation service. Additionally, Hale was placed on the sex offenders register for five years and was ordered to pay costs amounting to £105.