In 2012, the Offender Database recorded that former BBC and ITV presenter Peter Rowell, then 53, of Wickwar, South Gloucestershire, was jailed for six years for the sexual abuse of girls. On Thursday, 21 June 2012, Rowell was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court after admitting to 12 charges of indecent assault on girls under 16, as well as making and possessing indecent images of children.
The investigation established that Rowell, a newsreader for ITV West and an afternoon presenter for BBC Radio Bristol and BBC Somerset, assaulted five victims between 1989 and the early 1990s. The broadcaster used his fame and “starstruck” young girls’ interest in the media to groom them, with many offences occurring at the GWR radio station studios on Bristol’s waterfront or at victims’ homes. In March 2011, Rowell sparked a nationwide search after disappearing and was later found in Keswick, Cumbria, following a police raid on his home that uncovered over 400 indecent images of children.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Rowell had utilised his “position of trust in the media” to attract and exploit innocent children. Judge David Ticehurst noted that the effect on his five victims had been “considerable,” describing the broadcaster’s behaviour as predatory. The prosecution stated that the investigation by Avon and Somerset Police was initiated after a single victim came forward in 2011, which gave others the courage to report their own experiences of abuse.
The judge noted that Rowell was prepared to use the “world of show business” as a lure for his crimes. For his actions in Bristol and South Gloucestershire, the court determined that a six-year custodial term was necessary to reflect the gravity of the 19 charges. Detective Inspector Jill Kells praised the bravery of the five survivors, noting that Rowell had taken advantage of their respect for his career to facilitate the abuse.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his crimes in England, Peter Rowell was handed:
- Custodial Sentence: Six years in prison.
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements are in effect for life.
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Bristol Crown Court following multiple guilty pleas.
- Convictions: 13 counts of indecent assault (including an alternative charge to rape), six counts of making indecent images, and one count of possession.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Rowell is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Avon and Somerset Police and the Probation Service. Following his release from prison, his management in the South Gloucestershire area has been under the oversight of the Public Protection Unit.
As a member of the Sex Offenders Register, Rowell must comply with notification requirements regarding his residence in Wickwar, South Gloucestershire, or any subsequent address, for the rest of his life. Authorities state that his history of using media roles to facilitate grooming remains a critical part of his long-term risk assessment. Any breach of his registration conditions or the terms of his licence since his release would result in immediate arrest and a potential return to custody.
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