Nine months in prison for driving instructor guilty of sexual assault

Date published: 31/10/2005

The 67-year-old driving instructor from Rochdale who indecently assaulted women pupils over a period of nearly 30 years has today, Monday 31 October 2005, been sentenced to 9 months in prison at Preston Crown Court.

Peter Knowles, of Derwent Avenue, Milnrow was found guilty of seven counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual assault on Tuesday 13 September 2005 after a trial lasting one week. He was sentenced to 9 months in prison for each of the offences, to run concurrently.

Four of the women, who were 17 or 18 years old when they first began lessons with Knowles, told police that he would grab their left thigh with his right hand and squeeze them. He told them it was to help them with their clutch control and it was normal.

Knowles would also touch some of the women on their breasts with the back of his hand while adjusting their seat belts or pointing out the direction he wanted them to go. He would also get them to lean over him after carrying out parking manoeuvres in order to see how far away from the kerb they were.

Knowles also made inappropriate sexual comments to the women. One woman, who had lessons with Knowles 20 years ago was so upset with the experience she did not have driving lessons for another five years.

Knowles was arrested by officers from Rochdale CID on 29 November 2004 at his home address and was subsequently charged with five counts of indecent assault and one count of sexual assault.

Following Knowles's initial appearance at Rochdale Magistrates court, which was reported in the local media, four other women came forward to the police with similar complaints. Knowles was arrested on Wednesday 5 December 2004 and charged with four counts of indecent assault. One of the charges was subsequently changed to sexual assault as a result of a change in the law regarding sexual offences.

In one incident in November 1982, a female pupil was running late when Knowles arrived. She invited him into the kitchen while she got ready. As she bent over to tie her shoelaces, Knowles came up behind the woman and grabbed her chest.

Another woman started lessons with Knowles in September 1977. During a lesson at night, he made her drive up onto the moors and pull over on a dirt track. Knowles then took hold of the woman's hand and placed in on his groin. He also kissed the woman and touched her chest.

Detective Constable Richard BECKWITH of Rochdale CID said: "This man has abused his position of trust as a driving instructor to a shocking degree.

"The women who came to him for lessons were often young and quite nervous about learning to drive. He took advantage of this vulnerability and tried to cover up his despicable actions by telling the women it was perfectly normal.

"Despite the weight of evidence against him, Knowles has denied his guilt throughout this case. He has even claimed that his victims were bad drivers and had some kind of grudge against him because he had criticised their driving.

"I would like to pay tribute to the courage of all the women who came forward and made complaints against him. Their bravery in coming to the police and giving evidence in open court has helped bring this man to justice and ensure other women do not fall victim to him."