Peer Sent To Prison (Press, 26 March 1954)
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Summary: Peer Sent To Prison (Press, 26 March 1954)
On 24 March 1954, an all-male jury at the Hampshire Assizes convicted three men of homosexual offences involving two Royal Air Force servicemen. The jury’s verdict followed an eight-day hearing, culminating in the sentencing of the defendants. Among those found guilty was 27-year-old Lord Montagu, who received a 12-month prison sentence. Michael Pitt-Rivers, aged 37 and a second cousin to Lord Montagu, along with 30-year-old Peter Wildeblood, a journalist from London, were each sentenced to 18 months in jail, reflecting the more severe nature of their charges. This case marked a significant moment in British legal history as it was the first instance in which a British peer had been convicted in a criminal court since the repeal of the right for peers to be tried by their fellow peers in the House of Lords. Mr Justice Ormerod, during sentencing, highlighted the gravity of the offences, stating it was "quite impossible for these offences to be passed over," while also noting that he was imposing the most lenient sentences he could. The jury deliberated for four and a half hours before reaching their verdict. The case drew considerable public interest due to its implications for the legal treatment of homosexuality in Britain during this period.
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