PETER KNIGHT'S SHOCKING ABUSE IN EDGBASTON: HYPNOTHERAPIST SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL OFFENSES IN BIRMINGHAM

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the Birmingham community, Peter Knight, a 75-year-old hypnotherapist from Selsey Road, Edgbaston, has been sentenced to eight and a half years in prison for a series of serious sexual offenses. The conviction follows a lengthy investigation and trial that uncovered a pattern of abuse spanning over a decade.

Knight was found guilty of committing 16 counts of indecent assault and three counts of indecency, all related to his exploitation of vulnerable women and young girls. The court heard that these offenses took place over a period of ten years, during which Knight exploited his position of trust as a spiritual healer and hypnotherapist to prey on those seeking his help. The judge overseeing the case emphasized the gravity of Knight’s betrayal, stating that he repeatedly abused the trust placed in him by his victims.

During the proceedings, it was revealed that Knight had established himself in the 1980s as a healer who promoted positive thinking and spiritual well-being. Operating from two Victorian terraced properties in Birmingham, he ran a business called The College of Universal Development. His services included hypnotherapy and tarot card reading, and he billed himself as a spiritual healer specializing in positive thinking. However, beneath this facade, Knight engaged in heinous acts of sexual misconduct.

The court detailed how Knight, who was convicted in November, used his professional guise to manipulate and molest young women and girls. One particularly disturbing incident involved an 11-year-old girl, whom he molested in his candle-lit treatment room after convincing her that the session would help her 'move forward' with her life. The judge condemned Knight for abusing his position, noting that he had pretended to have qualifications he did not possess and had preyed on vulnerable individuals, including women with young daughters.

In addition to the indecent assault charges, Knight faced allegations of indecency with a child, procuring a woman to have sex with him under false pretenses, and other related offenses. The court also ordered him to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life, reflecting the seriousness of his crimes and the need for ongoing public protection.

Representing Knight, lawyer David Mason stated that his client was in denial about his offending and had not treated anyone since suffering a stroke in 2006. Despite this, the court’s verdict underscores the importance of safeguarding vulnerable individuals from those who abuse positions of trust for personal gratification.