PETER HALLIWELL CHEADLE HULME SCOUT LEADER JAILED FOR SEXUAL OFFENCES

In a case that has shocked the local community of Cheadle Hulme, Peter Halliwell, a former Scout leader, has been sentenced to serve two years and three months in prison for committing historical sexual offences against a young boy. The sentencing took place at Manchester Crown Court, where Halliwell, aged 77, pleaded guilty to three counts of indecent assault that allegedly occurred during the mid-1960s. The offences involved a boy who was approximately nine or ten years old at the time, and the charges were brought forward by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

Halliwell’s crimes are said to have taken place while he was actively involved as a Scout leader, a role that should have been based on trust and mentorship. Instead, he exploited his position to target a vulnerable child, an act described by CPS officials as a gross abuse of trust. The court also ordered Halliwell to sign the sex offenders register for a period of ten years, emphasizing the seriousness of his actions and the potential risk he poses to the community.

Steve Hoolohan, a representative from the CPS, commented on the case, stating, “Halliwell used his role as a scout leader to target a young boy in his care. This was a gross abuse of his position of trust in the Scouts and in the local community, whereby he persistently exploited the boy for his own gratification.”

Earlier, in March 2013, Halliwell faced additional allegations when he was charged with 14 counts of indecent assault related to offences committed between 1965 and 1967. These charges stemmed from accusations that he assaulted a cub scout who was part of the 6th Cheadle Hulme Scout troop during that period. At that time, Halliwell was living on Sherwood Avenue in Cheadle Hulme, and he was scheduled to appear before Stockport Magistrates’ Court on March 7 of that year.

These cases have brought to light disturbing details about the abuse of trust by a man who was once a respected figure within the local scouting community. The court’s decision underscores the importance of accountability and justice for victims of such heinous acts, regardless of how much time has passed since the offences occurred.