PETER SLATER LEEDS SCOUT LEADER CAUGHT WITH CHILD ABUSE IMAGES IN LEEDS

In September 2016, a disturbing case emerged involving Peter Slater, a scout leader based in Leeds, who was found to be in possession of highly illegal and disturbing images depicting child abuse. The authorities acted swiftly after receiving information that led them to execute a search warrant at Slater’s residence in Rawdon, a suburb of Leeds. During the raid, police confiscated multiple pieces of electronic equipment from his home, which would later be scrutinized for illicit content.

At the time of his arrest, Slater was serving as a scout leader at the Headingley St Chad’s scout group. When officers arrived at his door, he appeared to be aware of the gravity of the situation, reportedly stating, “It’s about the child porn isn’t it? It’s all there, so I won’t be able to run scouts again.” His words reflected an acknowledgment of the evidence against him, though he initially refused to comment further during police interviews.

Prosecutors, led by Louise Pryke, revealed that the seized computer equipment contained a significant amount of illegal material. Importantly, authorities clarified that none of the images or videos found on Slater’s devices were linked to his role as a scout leader, indicating that his criminal activities were not directly connected to his position within the scouting community. The investigation uncovered a total of 105 movies classified under Category A, which is designated as the most severe level of child exploitation material.

The disturbing content predominantly featured young girls aged six and seven years old. Among the material was a particularly distressing video lasting over an hour, depicting the abuse of a six-year-old girl. Further examination of Slater’s computers revealed that they were equipped with file-sharing software, which could have allowed other individuals to access and view the illicit images and videos, raising concerns about distribution and wider dissemination.

Peter Slater, aged 31 and residing on Harrogate Road in Rawdon, initially refused to comment during police interviews. However, he later admitted that he had accessed the illegal material due to trauma he claimed to have suffered as a teenager. His guilty plea encompassed three counts of possessing prohibited images of a child, three counts of making indecent images of a child, and three counts of distributing indecent images of a child.

In sentencing, Slater received a 16-month prison term, which was suspended for two years, meaning he would not serve time unless he committed further offenses within that period. Additionally, he was ordered to participate in a 60-day activity program aimed at rehabilitation. As part of his sentence, Slater is also required to register as a sex offender for the next ten years, a measure intended to monitor and prevent future offenses.