Wakefield man jailed for child sexual offences

The 74 year old targeted a young girl between the years 2001 and 2007.

74 year old Peter Woolner
Author: Matt SoanesPublished 2nd Jun 2025

A Wakefield man has been handed a seven year prison sentence after being convicted of non-recent sexual offences against a young girl.

74 year old Peter Woolner, of Fairway in Normanton, targeted his victim over a six year period from 2001, when she was between the ages of 8 and 14.

She later came forward to police in 2021, leading to his arrest.

He was convicted of two counts of indecency with a child, two counts of indecent assault and three counts of possession of indecent images of a child following a trial earlier this year at Leeds Crown Court.

He was also handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order during sentencing last Friday (May 30).

Detective Inspector Mark Tester, of West Yorkshire Police, said:

ā€œI want to praise the victim for her courage in coming forward to report the horrific abuse she was subjected to.

ā€œPeter Woolner targeted a vulnerable child and it is right that he is now behind bars for his crimes. I hope his sentencing provides some sense of justice for the victim and allows her to begin to move forward with her life.

ā€œI would encourage any victim of unreported sexual offences, whether recent or non-recent, to please come forward and contact police.

ā€œWe have specialist officers who will handle all reports with sensitivity and support you throughout the justice process. We will thoroughly investigate all enquiries to bring perpetrators to justice.ā€

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