Edinburgh prison officer who 'rehabilitated sex offenders' caught with abuse images

 

Peter Sugden, a prison officer at the HMP Edinburgh, was sentenced after he believed he was sending sexual messages to a child on social media.

A disgraced Scottish prison officer who delivered "intensive" rehab courses to sex offenders has been placed on the register himself after being caught with child abuse material and extreme porn including a woman having sex with a donkey.

Peter Sugden's home in Reddingmuirhead, Falkirk, was raided by police in June 2024 after he was caught in a “sting” set up London-based group of paedophile hunters.

The 46-year-old former HMP Edinburgh officer appeared for sentence at Falkirk Sheriff Court on Tuesday, May 20th, after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing to communicating indecently someone he thought was a child called “Abbie”, but was in fact a adult female decoy named Sonia.

Sugden, now of Rumford, near Maddiston, and working as a driver, also admitted possessing and downloading child porn, and possessing extreme porn including images depicting the woman engaged in sexual activity with the donkey and men engaged in sexual activity with dogs.

The court heard that 12 child sexual abuse and exploitation images and one child sexual abuse and exploitation video were found. Two of the photographs were considered Category A, the most serious kind.

Solicitor Sarah McIlwham, defending, said Sugden had no previous convictions

She said: “Until the events which bring us to court today, he was a happily married man - married for over 20 years. There are two children of that union.

“Up until this offence, he'd been working in SPS as a prison officer for in excess of 22 years.

"These offences have caused great distress, not only to his ex-wife and daughters but also to his parents and immediate family.

"Mr Sugden is a man who never thought he would be in front of the courts but finds himself here after a significant lapse in judgement.

"It's something for which he's deeply remorseful and regretful of. However he takes full responsibility.

"He's had his life turned upside down by these offences.

"He was put out the family home. He has not returned, he has no chances of reconciliation with his wife and quite frankly he is too ashamed to try.

"Similarly, the relationship he has with his two daughters is strained.

"There was a lapse in judgement. His mental health prior to this offending had been significantly down. He's currently medicated for that. He doesn't see himself coming off this medication for some time.

"He is a man somewhat broken by his actions.”

The court heard that Sugden has already paid to undertake rehab work the Lucy Faithfull Foundation and has been engaging with child abuse prevention charity Stop It Now!

Sheriff Craig Harris placed Sugden under supervision for three years and on the sex offenders register for the same period.

My view

This is an absolute disgrace and a damning reflection on the state of the UK justice system. How many more times are we going to see people in positions of power and trust abuse that responsibility, only to be handed sentences that barely scratch the surface of justice? This individual used their authority to exploit and harm others—something that should never, ever be taken lightly. Yet once again, the system seems more concerned with leniency than with protecting the vulnerable or setting a strong example.

It’s heartbreaking and infuriating to watch another offender slip through the net with what feels like a slap on the wrist. There should be no room for mercy when it comes to crimes like this—especially from someone who was supposed to uphold standards and safeguard others. Once someone crosses that line and preys on innocence, there should be no turning back. Once a predator, always a predator—and the law needs to treat it as such. The victims deserve justice. Society deserves better.