In 2026, the Offender Database reported that Peter Thompson, then 49, of Felixstowe Road, Ipswich, was spared an immediate prison sentence at Ipswich Crown Court for voyeurism and the possession of child abuse material. Thompson, who worked as a school lollipop man, was caught after he hid a mobile phone in a school’s accessible toilets to secretly film a member of staff.
The investigation by Suffolk Constabulary began on 27 March 2018, when school staff noticed a phone recording in the pocket of a jacket hanging in the facilities. The device was found to contain footage of a staff member using the toilet. Following his discovery, Thompson was arrested at a Waitrose store in Ipswich town centre, where he held a second job.
Forensic Findings and Position of Trust
A search of Thompson’s home led to the seizure of electrical devices containing a “vile” collection of indecent material. Forensic analysts discovered:
- Category A: 13 images and 1 video (the most “serious” level).
- Category B: 21 images.
- Category C: 29 images.
The court heard that Thompson had abused his position of trust at the school to facilitate his voyeurism. Judge David Pugh emphasised that the offence involved significant planning and “subterfuge.” Although Thompson expressed remorse and shame, his actions led to the immediate loss of both his roles as a lollipop man and a retail worker.
Sentence and Rehabilitation
Thompson pleaded guilty to voyeurism and four counts of making indecent photographs of children. For his crimes in Ipswich, Peter Thompson was:
- Given a six-month prison sentence, suspended for 24 months.
- Ordered to attend a sex offenders’ treatment programme.
- Given a 35-day rehabilitation activity requirement.
- Ordered to perform 180 hours of unpaid work.
- Ordered to pay £250 compensation to the voyeurism victim.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Thompson is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Suffolk Constabulary. His residency in Ipswich, Suffolk, and his history of “vicious” privacy breaches remain under “serious” scrutiny.
As part of his sentence, he was:
- Placed on the Sex Offenders Register for seven years.
- Subjected to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) for seven years.
The SHPO strictly prohibits Thompson from entering school premises or using recording devices in public facilities. Suffolk Constabulary emphasises that it monitors registered offenders to ensure they do not return to roles involving children or vulnerable adults. Any breach of his “behaviour” requirements or his SHPO will result in the immediate activation of his suspended prison sentence.
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