Former Met chief cleared of abusing young men

A former Met Police chief who offered two vulnerable young men drugs and a place to stay has been cleared of abusing them.

Peter Kirkham, 65, left the Met with an ‘unblemished’ record in 2002 after 21 years of service.

The former detective chief inspector was a regular face on BBC and Sky News providing his ‘expert’ comments on stories that hit the news.

But he confessed in court to a secret double life, meeting up with young men on hook-up sites including Grindr for drug-fuelled sex sessions.

Kirkham admitted six charges relating to the possession and supply of drugs used in ‘chem sex’ parties including GBL, MDMA, cannabis and ketamine.

He was accused of using his position to prey on the two young men by offering his £830,000 home in suburban Twickenham, southwest London, for court bail.

But after a two week trial at Kingston Crown Court he was cleared by a jury of rape, two counts of sexual assault, two of causing someone to engage in sexual activity without consent, one of controlling or coercive behaviour, two of making indecent images of children and one of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm.

Kirkham, who admitted he was promiscuous, maintained the allegations made by both men were part of a conspiracy to ruin his life.

He insisted he had never had sex with anyone without their consent in his life.

Asked if he abused one of the complainants he said: ‘I did not control him. I did not predate him.

‘We had sex as he wished. It just did not happen like that.

‘I did not coercively control.

‘I didn’t do any of the things alleged. I am a genuine guy, a nice guy who tries to help people.

‘I am not lying to the jury. I have tried to be honest throughout my evidence.’

Kirkham admitted he had once joked: ‘What is the point of having a rent boy in the house if I don’t get sex all the time?’

The former DCI, who as been HIV positive since 2002, was also caught with category A and B indecent images of children on his phone during the police investigation.

But he insisted he has no sexual interest in children.

Kirkham earlier admitted being concerned with supplying cannabis and GBL – both class B drugs – to another as well as possession of cocaine, crystal meth, MDMA, which are all class A drugs.

He also admitted possession of ketamine, a class B drug.

After the verdicts were announced jurors heard Kirkham’s home has been damaged and burgled while he has been on remand in HMP Wandsworth.

Judge Marcus Tregilgas-Davey remanded him in custody ahead of sentence on 18 June.

Earlier prosecutor Mark Fenhalls, KC, told the court how since at least 2022 Kirkham ‘associated with vulnerable young gay men: young men with drug dependencies, without settled addresses or income, with mental health issues and those finding themselves, because of their social circumstances, in trouble with the police.’

He did this by offering the young men his own address for court bail and hosting ‘chem sex’ parties to facilitate his sexual offending, the court heard.

Mr Fenhalls said: ‘He put himself forward as a respected and respectable person who could be trusted. The prosecution say he was anything but.

‘He was preying on the vulnerable for his own sexual gratification.’

Kirkham admitted the possession and supply of drugs related to ‘chem sex’ acts but the prosecutor alleged they
were ‘a tool by which he was able to groom the complainants and take advantage of them sexually.’

He said one of the complainants did not want to have sex but felt like he had to because he was living under Kirkham’s roof and receiving drugs from him.

Mr Fenhalls alleged Kirkham ‘forced or attempted to force them to engage with sexual activity with him, and others, in return for drugs and emotional and financial support’.

One of the complainants claimed he was raped by Kirkham ‘on at least ten occasions’ between August 2023 and May 2025.

Following his second arrest on 31 October 2025 the former DCI gave police a voluntary statement denying he ever had non-consensual sex and insisted any sexual acts were done of their ‘own free will.’

Kirkham, of Lincoln Avenue, Twickenham, denied and was acquitted of one count of rape, two of sexual assault, two of causing someone to engage in sexual activity without consent, one of controlling or coercive behaviour, two of making indecent images of children and one of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent.

The charges dated between 27 September 2024 and 30 October 2025.
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