I'm Free

Pete Townshend cleared of kiddie porn rap, gets a scolding from the Bobbies. His identity will do five years in a sex offender database.

Comments

[Norbizness]

If I remember correctly, his claim was that he was doing research into being a survivor of sexual abuse, and happened upon the site.

It is an interesting question, though. What "offense" got him placed on the list?

[Sean]

I'm guessing the "offense" was using his credit card to purchase access to the child porn he "happened" upon.

[Phil]

"Police said it was not a defense 'to access these images for research ...'"

So will the police be charging themselves with the same offense?

[Sean]

I got a speeding ticket once. I asked the state trooper if he was writing himself a ticket too, since he must have been going the same speed when he was pacing me. He said no, I was the only one getting a ticket.

[James Merritt]

Townshend is "cleared," but this entails getting a scolding and having his name go onto a "sex offender" database for several years?

Maybe they have a different definition of "cleared" across the water. Sounds to me as if he were convicted, but got one of the lighter sentences. How bizarre.