PETER MILNER FROM SHAWBURY AND SWANSEA SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES

In a series of harrowing legal proceedings, Peter Milner, a man with connections to both Shawbury and Swansea, has been convicted and sentenced for a disturbing pattern of child sexual abuse spanning over a decade. The gravity of his crimes was laid bare in court, revealing a long history of exploitation and manipulation of vulnerable young girls.

Milner, aged 51, was initially brought to justice after a series of allegations surfaced, culminating in his guilty plea to seven counts of sexual activity with a child and rape of a child, committed between 2007 and 2014. Additionally, he admitted to possessing indecent photographs of a child in 2017. The charges relate to the same victim, whose identity remains protected, and the offences took place across different locations, including Swansea and Shropshire.

The case gained further prominence when it was revealed that Milner, a martial arts coach, had previously served time for similar offences. In 2019, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison after being convicted of abusing a young girl from the age of five until she reached puberty. The court heard that Milner had repeatedly assaulted her, often threatening her with disbelief if she ever disclosed the abuse. The victim, now an adult, provided a powerful impact statement, describing how the trauma had left her distrustful of men, suffering from anxiety, and feeling damaged for life. She expressed that Milner's actions had robbed her of her childhood and teen years, and she now strives to help others as a future counselor.

Further disturbing details emerged during the proceedings, including allegations that Milner had sexually assaulted another girl opportunistically, after which he would give her money to silence her. The court was also informed that Milner had moved from Swansea to Shropshire, where he continued to live with his wife in Shawbury. His criminal history, although not previously involving sexual offences, was extensive.

In the latest sentencing at Swansea Crown Court, Judge Paul Thomas QC emphasized the need to protect children from individuals like Milner. He stated that Milner posed a serious risk of harm to children well beyond his release date. The judge sentenced him to a total of 33 years in extended imprisonment, with the requirement that he serve at least two-thirds of this term before being eligible for parole. Milner will also be subject to indefinite sexual harm prevention orders and restraining orders. The court ordered the forfeiture and destruction of electronic devices seized during the investigation, which contained hundreds of images, some classified as Category A, the most serious level of child exploitation material.

Investigations also revealed that Milner had worked in Shrewsbury for five years up to 2019, when he was jailed for 18 years at Swansea for offences committed between 1995 and 2005. His previous convictions included the sexual abuse of two girls in Swansea before relocating to Shropshire. The court acknowledged that although Milner’s record contained no prior sexual offences, his pattern of predatory behavior was deeply troubling.

Judge Thomas highlighted the vile nature of Milner’s acts, noting that if current legislation had been in place at the time, charges such as attempted anal rape could have been applied, carrying even harsher penalties. The court’s verdict underscores the importance of safeguarding children and holding offenders accountable for their heinous crimes, which have inflicted lifelong trauma on their victims.