Peter Rowell
{{short description|English radio and television presenter and convicted criminal}}
{{confused|Peter Rowell (British Army officer)}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Peter Rowell
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name = Henry Rowell
| birth_date = {{birth-date and age|10 May 1958}}
| birth_place = Sunderland, County Durham, England, UK
| death_date =
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| education =
| alma_mater =
| occupation = {{hlist|Broadcaster|radio DJ|newsreader}}
| employer = {{unbulleted list|BBC Radio Newcastle|BBC Radio Bristol|GWR FM|South Wales Life|HTV}}
| known_for = Geordie Racer
| notable_works =
| criminal_charge = Indecent assault and making indecent images of children
| criminal_penalty =
| criminal_status =
| spouse =
| partner =
| children = 1
}}
Peter Rowell (born 10 May 1958) is an English former radio and television presenter.
Rowell spent much of his career working in the West of England. In March 2012, he was jailed for six years after admitting 12 charges of indecent sexual assault against underage girls and further charges of making and possessing indecent images of children.
Career
Born in Sunderland, County Durham, Rowell began his career as a presenter for BBC Radio Newcastle. During this time, he played the role of a fictional DJ in the 1988 drama series Geordie Racer as part of the long-running BBC Schools series Look and Read.[http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-news/2011/04/23/bbc-radio-presenter-peter-rowell-faces-four-indecency-charges-61634-28569492/ BBC radio presenter Peter Rowell faces four indecency charges – The Journal]
Towards the end of the decade, Rowell moved to Bristol to become a presenter for GWR FM. Around this time, he also worked for HTV West (now ITV West Country) as a continuity announcer, before joining the station full-time in 1997 as a daytime bulletin newsreader. While at HTV, Rowell also worked as a features reporter and presented a number of non-news regional programmes.
After the death of Princess Diana in 1997, Rowell faced a disciplinary hearing after saying "she had huge knockers" after footage of the princess was shown and not realising the microphone was switched on.{{cite news| url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/tv-newsreader-in-scandal-over-comments-on-diana-1233233.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220526/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/tv-newsreader-in-scandal-over-comments-on-diana-1233233.html |archive-date=26 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live | location=London | work=The Independent | first=Kate | last=Watson-Smyth | title=TV newsreader in scandal over comments on Diana | date=1 October 1997}}
He left ITV West in May 2010 and joined BBC Radio Bristol to present its weekday afternoon and Sunday morning shows.{{cite web|url=http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/TV-face-anchor-BBC-radio-afternoon/article-2160097-detail/article.html|title=TV face quits ITV West to anchor BBC Radio Bristol afternoon show |last=Davey|first=Tim|work=Evening Post|accessdate=30 March 2011}}{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p001mnwc|title=BBC – BBC Bristol Programmes – The Sunday Show with Peter Rowell|work=BBC Online|accessdate=30 March 2011}}{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00fdxn0|title=BBC – BBC Bristol Programmes – Peter Rowell, 21/03/2011|work=BBC Online|accessdate=30 March 2011}} He left the BBC a year later after his contract expired.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-13471669|title=BBC Online – Former BBC man Peter Rowell in court on sex charges|work=BBC Online|accessdate=23 May 2011|date=20 May 2011}}
He now owns and works for South Wales Life, a mostly online publication made by himself under his new name, Henry Peters.
Personal life
Rowell is married with one child and, prior to his imprisonment, lived in Wickwar, Gloucestershire.{{cite web |url=http://web.orange.co.uk/article/news/ex_tv_presenter_admits_sex_assaults_on_girls |title=Ex-TV presenter admits sex assaults on girls|publisher=Orange News|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120114161736/http://web.orange.co.uk/article/news/ex_tv_presenter_admits_sex_assaults_on_girls|archivedate=14 January 2012|accessdate=22 December 2015}}{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/9013198/Former-BBC-and-ITV-presenter-admits-string-of-sex-assaults-on-teenage-girls.html |title=Former BBC and ITV presenter admits string of sex assaults on teenage girls |newspaper=Daily Telegraph |date=13 January 2012 |accessdate=23 January 2012 |location=London}} Rowell has also supported various charities including the National Animal Support League and KWADS (Knowle West Against Drugs).{{cite web|url=http://www.nassl-sw.org.uk/archive.php|title=NASSL (Bristol Branch) – Archive|accessdate=30 March 2011|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120911132715/http://www.nassl-sw.org.uk/archive.php|archive-date=11 September 2012|url-status=dead}}
Indecent assaults conviction
On 29 March 2011, Rowell was reported missing after he failed to turn up for work at the BBC's Bristol studios and could not be contacted.{{cite web|url=http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Vulnerable-BBC-West-Country-Radio-And-TV-Presenter-Peter-Rowell-Missing-After-Bereavement/Article/201103415962645?lpos=UK_News_First_UK_News_Article_Teaser_Region_2&lid=ARTICLE_15962645_Vulnerable_BBC_West_Country_Radio_And_TV_Presenter_Peter_Rowell_Missing_After_Bereavement|title='Vulnerable' BBC West Country Radio And TV Presenter Peter Rowell Missing After Bereavement |last=Stallard|first=Katie|date=30 March 2011|work=British Sky Broadcasting|accessdate=30 March 2011|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015022603/http://news.sky.com/story/844858/fears-for-vulnerable-missing-tv-presenter|archivedate=15 October 2012}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-12915077|title=BBC News – BBC presenter Peter Rowell found 'safe and well' in Cumbria|date=30 March 2011|work=BBC Online|accessdate=30 March 2011}} Rowell was found in Keswick in Cumbria 36 hours after he was last seen at a supermarket in Yate. He was arrested a day later.
On 22 April 2011, Avon and Somerset Police charged Rowell with four counts of indecent assault, dating back to the late 1980s and early 1990s.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-13167215|title=BBC News – BBC presenter charged with indecent assaults|date=22 April 2011|work=BBC Online|accessdate=22 April 2011}} A month later, he was also charged with seven counts of possessing and making indecent images of children along with seven counts of indecent assault against four girls under the age of sixteen.{{cite news|last=Womack|first=Alexandra|title=TV and radio presenter Peter Rowell in court on child sex offence charges|url=http://www.gazetteseries.co.uk/news/9045416.TV_and_radio_presenter_Peter_Rowell_in_court_on_child_sex_offence_charges/|accessdate=1 June 2011|date=24 May 2011}} Rowell appeared before North Avon magistrates' court on 10 June 2011 to face further charges relating to a fifth victim, including rape against a 16-year-old and two counts of sexual assault.{{cite news|title=Former TV presenter back in court to face new child sex charges|url=http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/TV-presenter-court-face-new-child-sex-charges/story-12746751-detail/story.html|accessdate=10 June 2011|newspaper=Bristol Evening Post|date=9 June 2011}}{{cite news|last=Womack|first=Alexandra|title=BREAKING NEWS: Former BBC presenter Peter Rowell bailed on child rape charge|url=http://www.gazetteseries.co.uk/news/9075861.BREAKING_NEWS__Former_BBC_presenter_bailed_on_child_rape_charge/|accessdate=10 June 2011|newspaper=The Gazette|date=9 June 2011}}{{cite news|title=Former BBC man Peter Rowell in court over rape inquiry|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-13708385|accessdate=10 June 2011|newspaper=BBC News|date=9 June 2011}} and was released on bail with conditions attached until October 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Peter-Rowell-s-appearance-Crown-Court/story-12832420-detail/story.html|title=Peter Rowell's first appearance at Crown Court|date=25 June 2011|work=This Is Bristol|accessdate=21 July 2011}}
The case was committed to trial in October 2011 after Rowell pleaded not guilty to a total of seventeen charges of rape, indecent assault and making and possessing indecent images.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/mobile/uk-england-bristol-15214191|title=BBC News – Former BBC presenter Peter Rowell faces child sex trial|date=7 October 2011|work=BBC Online|accessdate=13 November 2011}} At Bristol Crown Court on 13 January 2012, Rowell admitted 12 charges of indecent assault against five girls under the age of 16 and seven counts of making and possessing child pornography. The rape charge was downgraded to indecent assault, which the court accepted.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-16543228 Ex-BBC presenter Peter Rowell admits sex charges] Avon and Somerset Police said many of the offences had occurred while Rowell was working as a presenter for GWR FM and took place at the station's former studios at St. Augustine's Reach on the Bristol waterfront.
On 2 March 2012, Judge David Ticehurst sentenced Rowell to six years in prison and placed him on the sex offender register.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-17225087 Ex-BBC presenter Peter Rowell jailed for abusing girls]
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Rowell, Peter}}
Category:English people convicted of indecent assault
Category:British television newsreaders and news presenters
Category:English people convicted of child sexual abuse
Category:English radio presenters
Category:English television presenters
Category:Mass media people from Sunderland
Category:English people convicted of child pornography offences
Category:BBC television presenters
Category:English prisoners and detainees