Police chief engaged in drug-fuelled Grindr ‘chem intercourse’ whereas working as TV pundit
Former Met Police Detective Chief Inspector Peter Kirkham has admitted taking class A drugs including cocaine and crystal meth during chemsex sessions while working as a TV crime pundit
Peter Kirkham retried after reaching the rank of Detective Chief Inspector
A former Met Police chief has confessed to using a cocktail of drugs and engaging in ‘chem sex’ with blokes he met on Grindr while appearing on TV as a crime and policing pundit.
Peter Kirkham admitted to Kingston Crown Court that he had occasionally used cocaine, MDMA, crystal meth, GBH and cannabis during “chem sex” sessions after arranging meet-ups with strange men he met online. The former cop, who rose to rank of Detective Chief Inspector, told the jury he was “promiscuous” and engaged in sexual activities with other men, sometimes involving threesomes, but insisted that every encounter he had ever had was consensual.
He is currently standing trial, accused of sexual assaults and coercive behaviour against two “vulnerable young gay men”, who cannot be identified for legal reasons. Kirkham denies all the charges against him and claimed the men were trying to “ruin his life”.
The court was told that after meeting them, he offered them drugs and accommodation at his home in Twickenham. One of the individuals was 18 years old when he first met him, while the other was in his 30s.
Kirkham is facing a raft of allegations including rape, sexual assault, coercive behaviour and sleeping with a man without telling him he has HIV. It is separately alleged that on or before September 27, 2024 Kirkham made 13 indecent images and two indecent videos of children of the worst type, category A with a separate charge of having six indecent images and three indecent videos of children at category B on or before the same date.
Kirkham denies all nine of the offences. The court heard that Kirkham served for 21 years with the Met Police rising to the rank of Detective Chief Inspector before retiring in 2002 with a decorated and unblemished career.
He went on to set up a security management and policing consultancy company and become a regular TV pundit, who has given views on crime, policing and its politics to national newspapers and broadcasters such as Sky News, Channel 4, GB News and the BBC.
Prosecuting Mark Fenhalls, KC, said: “Subsequent to retiring he appeared on various media outlets providing ‘expert’ comment on various stories that appeared in the news.”
But, Mr Fenhalls said that from at least 2022 Kirkham had associated with “vulnerable young men”. The court heard that the younger man was bailed to live at Kirkham’s address after he was charged with an offence and that the abuse continued until the alleged victim “fled” from Kirkham’s home.
A harrowing phone call the young man made to police was played to the jury in which the alleged victim pleaded for help alleging that Kirkham was making him take drugs and forcing him into sex acts he did not want to do.
Body Worn video of police searching Kirkham’s home was played to the court, during which he was asked for his phone pin, to which he replied, “I’ll speak to a solicitor”.
Mr Fenhalls put it to Kirkham that he had made the younger man financially dependent upon him. Kirkham said this was untrue and the man had his own key and could come and go from the address as he pleased.
He said that he had consensual sex with both men at different times and always kept a supply of PrEP, the prescription drug that prevents HIV from spreading. He said he had not been in a relationship with either of them and they were just friends he had tried to help out who sometimes had sex.
Under cross examination, Kirkham said he left the force after being commended several times because he had achieved all he had wanted to from the job. He said he had been a drinker while on the force but in later years, virtually gave up alcohol, before discovering the use of some recreational drugs during sex after using Grindr.
His profile said he was open to ‘hook ups’ with men who engaged in chem sex, detailing to the court the effects of certain drugs such as MDMA, crystal meth, GBH, cocaine and cannabis.
He said: ‘I’m ashamed to say I am promiscuous… I would usually meet just one person. Later, if they wanted, there could be a threesome… but it is always consensual.
“I have never had sex with anyone without consent in my life. I have never had any sex with anyone who has been asleep.”
In response to one of the acts accused of, he said it would have been impossible for him to get into that position due to his knees being “shot”. Kirkham admitted sex with the younger man on at least ten occasions, but said they all were with consent.
The trial continues.
If you or somebody you know has been affected by this story, contact Victim Support for free, confidential advice on 08 08 16 89 111 or visit their website, http://www.victimsupport.org.uk.
