[no subject]

8 May 2003 
I WAKE UP FREE - BUT BRANDED 

How ironic it is that I should find myself on a
'local' list of sex offenders when for the last 30
years I have worked tirelessly to help hundreds of
people afflicted directly or indirectly by childhood
sexual trauma and all the subsequent human
psychodramas it leads to. I have always kept quiet
about this. Until now. 

Until now, out of respect for the police investigation
into child-pornography on the internet, I have kept
silent, and waited for justice. I think the decision
to caution me was right and just. I admitted an
offence without claiming extraordinary mitigation.
That has left many free to comment at will about my
culpability or my poor judgement. But surely it must
be seen that I have always been an ardent messenger
warning of the potential proliferation of dangerous
pornographic materials on the internet, which -
exposed to children or impressionable adults - could
have an effect that can only be described as
'soul-trauma'. 

What could also be described as 'soul-trauma' is
putting a well-known celebrity on a 'local' sex
offenders list after police spent three and a half
months trawling forensically through eleven computers
and other media and found not a single instance of
child pornography. Neither have they received a single
complaint about my personal sexual conduct. I
understand now that research of any kind is now not
permitted in the particularly sensitive arena of child
porn. Therefore I admitted to what I regard as a
technical offence - the use of a credit card on one
occasion, and for research.

I have no argument with the police or the press. But I
think the rules here with respect to the sex offenders
register might be a bit askew. But then I suppose I
would wouldn't I?

In your mind, put me on the list of wonky but
well-intentioned liberal do-gooders if you like. But
please do not think of me as a 'sex offender'. That,
quite simply, as I and most other right-minded people
in the UK understand it, is neither true nor just. 

Pete. May 8th 2003


=====
-Brian in Atlanta
The Who This Month!
http://www.thewhothismonth.com

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