PETER SCOTT FROM WYTHENSHAWE AND SWANSEA JAILED FOR CHILD SEX ABUSE AFTER FIVE-YEAR ESCAPE

In a significant development in the fight against historic child sex abuse, Peter Scott, a 58-year-old man originally from Wythenshawe, has been sentenced to prison after evading capture for over five years. Scott's criminal activities, which involved multiple victims, primarily took place during the 1980s, with the abuse inflicted upon three different children. Two of these victims were as young as 11 years old when the abuse began, highlighting the severity and brutality of his crimes.

Scott's heinous acts came to light in 2007 when the victims bravely reported their experiences to the police. Despite the initial reports, locating Scott proved challenging, as he had already left the country. Authorities conducted checks through the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) database, which initially indicated an address in Swansea. However, subsequent investigations revealed that Scott was no longer residing at that address, raising suspicions that he had fled the UK.

Intelligence sources then suggested that Scott might have escaped abroad, prompting an all-ports warning to be issued to prevent his departure or entry into other countries. The police's efforts intensified, and in October 2009, Greater Manchester Police issued a public appeal to locate Scott. The appeal included a digitally enhanced image showing how he might have aged over the years, aiming to aid in his identification.

Four years later, in 2013, Scott was found sleeping rough in Foix, France. His attempt to apply for a new passport as part of his efforts to secure accommodation triggered an alert, leading to the issuance of a European Arrest Warrant. This warrant facilitated his extradition back to the UK in February 2013, where he was taken into custody by GMP officers.

Detective Sergeant Suzanne Keenaghan, who was involved in the case, expressed her determination and the collaborative effort that led to Scott's capture. She stated, “Our determination to find Peter Scott was greater than his determination to avoid this day. When we realised he may have exiled himself abroad, we put in place a number of controls that meant there was only so much Scott could do without us becoming aware of his whereabouts.” She further emphasized the importance of international cooperation, noting that the extradition was achieved through partnerships with the Serious Organised Crime Agency, Interpol, and French police.

Scott was subsequently brought before Manchester Crown Court, where he pleaded guilty to 23 charges, including gross indecency with a child and indecent assault. His crimes, which spanned several years, resulted in a prison sentence of eight years. The court's decision underscores the seriousness with which the justice system treats such offenses and the commitment to bringing offenders to justice regardless of how long ago the crimes occurred.

In her remarks, Detective Sergeant Keenaghan highlighted the profound impact of Scott’s abuse on his victims. She said, “The abuse that these victims suffered through the years is unimaginable. Having spent so much time with them through the whole process, I am able to see first-hand the major impact this has had on their lives. I just hope now that this may bring some closure to them so that they can try to move on.” She also praised the resilience of the victims, acknowledging their courage in reporting the crimes and pursuing justice despite the passage of time.

She concluded with a message of hope and reassurance, stating, “I understand that many victims feel that the easiest thing to do is simply try and forget about the past and keep their experiences bottled up. But you can never really shake off what has happened, and bringing that person to justice is often the only way for victims to truly move on. For us, it is never too late for abuse to be reported.”