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Weekly’s splash brings rapist scout leader to justice

A weekly’s splash about a scout leader who downloaded images of child abuse has led to him being convicted of rape – 15 months on.

One of Peter Turner’s victims read about his case after it featured in the East Kent Mercury in March 2014.

She contacted the police who launched a new probe into his past offending. She was joined by a further five victims.

Turner said the women had made up the allegations after reading the initial story in the KM Group-owned Mercury, which covers the town of Deal.

East Kent 2016

The Mercury splashed on Turner’s most recent conviction in Thursday’s edition, pictured above.

A judge warned him he faces “a term of imprisonment of some considerable length” after being convicted of rape, indecency with children, indecent assault and the possession of child sex images.

Mercury editor Leo Whitlock said: “We are glad our coverage of Turner’s case prompted more of his victims to come forward and finally get some sort of justice after all of these years.

“As a company we firmly believe in covering the courts and have reporter Paul Hooper dedicated to covering Canterbury Crown Court and Keith Hunt focused on covering Maidstone Crown Court.

“We still think it is vitally important for us to play our part in justice being done and being seen to be done.”

The newspaper’s original March 2014 front page on the case is pictured below.

The 2014 Mercury splash which led to one of Turner's victims coming forward

The 2014 Mercury splash which led to one of Turner’s victims coming forward