Oxford University lecturer who once published a paper questioning if child pornography could be ‘morally acceptable’ is suspended after pleading guilty to making nearly 3,000 indecent photos of a child
- Peter King was philosophy lecturer at Pembroke College until last Friday
- He pleaded guilty to four charges relating to 2,992 images from 2010 to 2018
- King, who was part-time, will be sentenced at Oxford Crown Court on March 19
An Oxford University lecturer who once published a paper on the ethics of child pornography has pleaded guilty to making nearly 3,000 child sex images.
Peter King taught philosophy part-time at Pembroke College until he emailed students to say he had been suspended last Friday.
He appeared at Oxford Crown Court the day before and pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children and one of possession of a prohibited image of a child.
The offences were committed in Oxfordshire between 2010 and 2018 and relate to 2,992 images, including 183 of the most serious ‘Category A’ nature.
In 2008 he published a controversial paper entitled: ‘No Plaything: Ethical Issues Concerning Child-pornography’.
Philosophy lecturer Peter King (pictured) has pleaded guilty to four charges involving thousands of indecent images of children
A summary of the piece he published 12 years ago reads: ‘I look at the question of harm to the children involved, the consumers, and society in general, at the question of blame, and at the possibility of a morally acceptable form of child-pornography.’
According to the Oxford Blue student newspaper, King emailed his students to say he had been ‘immediately suspended from his employment in college, pending disciplinary proceedings’ on February 21.
Students at the college told the paper they had not heard from him for weeks and he had not organised any recent lectures or seminars.
Pembroke’s academic director Nancy Braithwaite wrote to them to offer her support following the shocking news.
She said: ‘This will come as a shock and my concern now is to ensure that you receive any support that you might need.
‘I am sorry to have to relay such distressing news. This will be a difficult time for our community and we must do everything we can to support each other.’
King’s name or picture is no longer listed on the university’s official websites. He will be sentenced on March 19.
A spokesman for Pembroke College said: ‘Pembroke College was made aware of the police investigation and charges against Peter King only the day before his court appearance.
‘He was immediately suspended from his employment, pending disciplinary proceedings.
‘The College moved swiftly to put in place welfare and counselling arrangements for students and staff, and alternative teaching arrangements and academic support for all affected students.’
King taught philosophy part-time at Pembroke College, Oxford (pictured) until he emailed students to say he had been suspended last Friday