# Pete Townshend: pedophile? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 11, 2003, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pete-townshend-pedophile/148003 "2003-01-11T20:08:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![everton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@everton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/everton)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2003, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pete-townshend-pedophile/148003/121 "2003-05-07T15:18:23Z")
Excuse me resurrecting this old thread, but there has been an update following the completion of the police investigation into Pete Townsend. He has been “formally cautioned” by the Metropolitan Police and released. [From the BBC report](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3007871.stm): > [@](#): > > The musician appeared at Kingston police station in London on Wednesday where he was fingerprinted, photographed and a DNA sample was taken. > > He will also be placed on the Sex Offenders Register for five years. > > The caution was the culmination of a four-month investigation during which Mr Townshend was cleared of being in possession of indecent pictures downloaded from the internet. > > Scotland Yard said he had “fully co-operated” with the investigation. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2003, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pete-townshend-pedophile/148003/122 "2003-05-07T16:38:04Z")
Thanks, **everton** , I guess this means that the investigation did not uncover anything more than what Townshend was claiming and that they essentially believed his story. My own intuition was that he was telling the truth but had made a foolish decision. I’ll stick to that assumption unless anything else turns up in the future. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2003, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pete-townshend-pedophile/148003/123 "2003-05-07T17:34:55Z")
That’s correct, Diogenes. If memory serves, he claimed to have looked at child porn sites three times, once with a credit card. Checks of his computer backed up that statement. ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2003, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pete-townshend-pedophile/148003/124 "2003-05-07T18:54:36Z")
Yes, looked but didn’t download. And this on three occasions in 1999, apparently for research purposes - nothing since. Fwiw, I don’t think it was ever anything more than he said it was. I’m sure he’s glad it’s over. I understand the arguments in favour of this kind of law but it still feels strange that I’d be committing a crime just by clicking a link ---
**Author:** ![Stonebow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Stonebow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stonebow)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2003, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pete-townshend-pedophile/148003/125 "2003-05-07T19:28:25Z")
thank you, everton. it’s good to see closure with one of these celebrity cases. it’s even better to know that things were basically what he said they were. that said, I hope he’s learned a lesson, and will find a better way to get out his message against child pornography. ---
**Author:** ![Boo\_Boo\_Foo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@Boo\_Boo\_Foo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boo_Boo_Foo)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pete-townshend-pedophile/148003/126 "2003-05-08T06:50:27Z")
Yeah, I have to say, if ever there was a bloke in the music caper who came across as being a “straight shooter” (albeit a prickly customer at times) it was always Pete Townshend. It would have been a real blow to my faith in trusting my gut instincts if someone like Pete had turned out to be a dodgy character. I for one, believe his story in toto. He’s exactly the sort of bloke who would do such sorts of research just so that he could arm himself with knowledge before making some sort of typical Townshend political crusade. Indeed, with hindsight, it makes his rock opus “Tommy” seem even more relevant and meritorious now, when considered in the context of Pete’s explanation. Which is not to say I’m not aware he hasn’t been a very naughty boy in his time - obviously he’s pushed the envelope on a multitude of different fronts - but being a degenerate pedo was never the sort of vibe I ever got from the guy… ever. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 9:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pete-townshend-pedophile/148003/127 "2003-05-08T09:57:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by London\_Calling \* > \*\* > > I’m sure he’s glad it’s over. I understand the arguments in favour of this kind of law but it still feels strange that I’d be committing a crime just by clicking a link \*\* It could be a lot worse. Remember this guy is 60, with his career largely behind him. His presence on that register would preclude him from a lot of possible lines of work, and would restrict his movements dramatically. I’m not sure what the appropriate response to this is, I just feel that this probably isn’t it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pete-townshend-pedophile/148003.md?page=6)