Peter Hawke, born 6 December 1955, was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment at Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday, 8 September 2026, after pleading guilty to ten counts of sexually assaulting a young child in Wigan.
The sentencing marks the second time the high-risk sex offender has been brought before the courts for sexual offences against children.
The investigation was initiated by Greater Manchester Police’s Safeguarding Unit after a young girl under the age of 13 disclosed that Hawke had subjected her to repeated sexual assaults on numerous occasions between 2021 and 2023.
At the time of the victim’s disclosure, Hawke was already detained inside prison custody, serving a five-year sentence for separate sexual offences committed against another young female victim.
Working alongside the Sexual Offender Management Unit (SOMU) and partner agencies, child protection detectives secured video-recorded evidence establishing that Hawke had systematically abused the child over a multi-year period.
Assessments carried out by SOMU concluded that Hawke represented a very high risk of harm, noting an absence of empathy and a lack of remorse for his conduct.
To protect the public and prevent Hawke’s return to the community, detectives executed a coordinated operation on 25 June 2026.
The moment Hawke was processed for release from HMP Risley, waiting officers arrested him directly at the prison gates.
He was conveyed to a police station, charged, and remanded into custody that same day.
Appearing at Liverpool Crown Court, Hawke entered guilty pleas to:
- Ten counts of sexual assault of a girl under the age of 13 by touching
Detective Constable Sarah Gleave praised the young survivor for demonstrating exceptional courage throughout the investigation, confirming that comprehensive safeguarding measures were maintained throughout the proceedings.
The judge handed Hawke an immediate custodial sentence of six years.
In addition to the prison sentence, Hawke was made subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) restricting his contact with children, a restraining order protecting the survivor and her family, and an indefinite notification requirement to register with police on the Sex Offenders Register for life.
Release Calculation: Under UK sentencing legislation governing standard determinate sentences, Hawke is required to serve one-half (three years / 36 months) of his six-year sentence in prison custody before becoming eligible for statutory release on licence. Following release, Hawke will remain subject to strict licence conditions and probation supervision in the community until the expiration of his full six-year term.
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