Peter Hawke’s freedom didn’t last long as he was arrested as soon as he walked out of the prison gates after police received information he had sexually assaulted a different girl
A ‘high-risk’ registered sex offender was arrested at the gates of a prison on his day of release and has now been jailed for child abuse for a second time, police have revealed.
Peter Hawke, now aged 70, had already been imprisoned for separate sexual offences against a girl when police swooped at HMP Risley in Warrington. He had been sentenced to five years for those crimes, but was arrested on the same day as his release, in June this year.
Now he’s been jailed for six more years after admitting sexually assaulting a different girl aged under 13 over ‘a period of years’ in Wigan, Greater Manchester Police said on Wednesday.
Hawke pleaded guilty to 10 counts of sexual assault and was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday (September 8). He was also subjected to strict orders restricting his future contact with children, with a restraining order also issued.
The girl disclosed the abuse took place on ‘multiple occasions between 2021 and 2023, GMP said.
In a statement, a force spokesperson said: “Following the girl’s disclosure, specialist officers from Greater Manchester Police launched an investigation, working closely with partner agencies including the Sexual Offender Management Unit (SOMU), probation services and safeguarding professionals.
“Through sensitive victim engagement, a video-recorded interview and extensive enquiries, officers gathered evidence showing that Hawke had repeatedly sexually assaulted the child.
“Detectives progressed the investigation while Hawke was serving a five-year custodial sentence for similar offences. Following extensive planning with partner agencies ahead of his release from HMP Risley, officers arrested Hawke at the prison gates on 25 June 2026.
“He was subsequently interviewed, charged and remanded back into custody the same day.” Child Protection Detective Constable Sarah Gleave said the unit assessed Hawke as ‘posing a very high risk of harm’.
After the latest sentencing hearing, she said: “I’d like to thank the young girl at the centre of this, who showed immense courage in speaking about what had happened to her.
“Thanks to her bravery, the support of her family and the close collaboration between police, probation, SOMU and other safeguarding partners, we were able to build a strong evidential case and bring Hawke before the courts again.
“We carefully planned his arrest so that the moment he was released from prison he was taken straight back into custody to answer for these further offences.
“The evidence gathered during the investigation resulted in Hawke pleading guilty to all ten offences and enabled a swift charge and remand while continuing to safeguard those affected. Victims and their families deserve privacy, dignity and the opportunity to move forward with their lives.”
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