PETER WAGERFIELD, THE OFFENDER IN EPSOM, RECEIVES LIFE SENTENCE AFTER COURT RULING

In October 2013, Peter Wagerfield, a child sex offender from Epsom, faced a court ruling that could result in life imprisonment after an appeal against his sentence was dismissed. The appeal was heard by Lady Justice Hallett, Mr Justice Sweeney, and Judge Martyn Zeldman QC at London's Criminal Appeal Court. Wagerfield's legal team argued that he was not deserving of an indefinite sentence.

Previously, in September 2012, Wagerfield was convicted for grooming and sexually abusing young boys. The 43-year-old had used tactics such as offering cigarettes, alcohol, and free mobile phones to lure boys into his control. He pleaded guilty to 23 sexual offences involving four boys aged between 11 and 13, including rape, attempted rape, sexual assault, and creating indecent photographs.

At the time of the offences, Wagerfield was residing in Epsom. He was subsequently sentenced at Guildford Crown Court to an indeterminate prison term with a minimum of 14 years to serve. The offences occurred from May 2011 through January of the following year.

Now residing in Pudsey, Wagerfield admitted to a wide range of charges stemming from his misconduct. His actions included befriending the boys by giving them cigarettes and alcohol, allowing them to smoke and drink at his home, and purchasing mobile phones for two boys—without their parents’ knowledge—then repeatedly contacting them through text and calls.

He even took the boys to hotels and encouraged them to have sexual activities with each other in his presence. Wagerfield’s arrest followed a police investigation initiated after one mother reported her suspicions that he was grooming her son and his friends.

Detective Constable Trudie Harrison, who led the investigation, emphasized that the life sentence reflected the gravity of Wagerfield’s crimes. She stated, “Wagerfield groomed these four boys over several months, plying them with alcohol and cigarettes and buying them expensive mobile phones in an effort to win their trust. His offending started with him touching them appropriately but this quickly escalated to far more serious sexual offences.”

She added, “He also took deliberate steps to hide the fact that he bought mobile phones for their boys from their parents. The sentence given today reflects the severity of his offending and sends a strong message that grooming and sexual offending of this nature will not be tolerated. This conviction also demonstrates Surrey Police’s commitment to treating any allegation of a sexual nature extremely seriously and its commitment that they will always be thoroughly investigated. I would also like to commend the victims for their bravery in coming forward under these extremely difficult and harrowing circumstances.”