A former MI6 operative and top British diplomat was found to have 45 diaries containing six years of “sexual fantasies” relating to children – and he left graphic abuse images on a bus.
Sir Peter Hayman had a briefcase containing black and white photographs of boys aged between eight and 11-years-old wearing just “Y fronts”.
Despite dying in April 1992, the impact of Hayman's criminality continues to cast a dark shadow after an independent inquiry found his criminality was covered up.
Hayman first came to prominence in 1937 when he joined the Home Office as a civil servant.
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Having served in the Second World War, rising to the rank of Major, he joined the British Information Service, and then moved on to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Eventually, he would find himself as deputy director of MI6, something not publicly known until 2014.
Well respected having held a number of high-ranking and influential government positions, he would be knighted by the Queen in 1971.
But the vast majority of the British public were unaware of his existence until October 1978, when he left a package of porn and paedophilia-related items on a London bus under the fake name of Peter Henderson.
And it was not long before police tracked him down to an apartment in the posh London area of Bayswater.
While searching the residence, 45 very graphic diaries were found detailing six sick years of “sexual fantasies” relating to children and prostitutes.
Items of women's clothing were also discovered. However, he was only given a warning, and released without charge.
The explosive incident came to light when MP Geoffrey Dickens used parliamentary privilege to expose Hayman, asking why he wasn't punished for what he had done.
It later emerged that he was a member of the Paedophile Information Exchange – which was a pro-paedophile group.
It closed in 1984, shortly after Hayman hit the headlines again when he was convicted and fined for an act of “gross indecency” with another person in a public toilet.
A year later, the impact of Dickens exposing Hayman was still being felt, when the former admitted in parliament that he had suffered abuse as a result.
He said: “The noose around my neck grew tighter after I named a former high-flying British diplomat on the Floor of the House.
“Honourable Members will understand that where big money is involved and as important names came into my possession so the threats began.
“First, I received threatening telephone calls followed by two burglaries at my London home.
“Then, more seriously, my name appeared on a multi-killer's hit list.”
But the impact of the incident is still being felt nearly 40 years later.
Hayman was mentioned 172 times in the report – it was alleged that Hayman, who was a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George, was given preferential treatment due to his positions of power.
It said: “Nevertheless, it seems clear that Hayman was given preferential or exceptional treatment because of his status and contacts.
“(There were) measures taken to ensure that Hayman’s activities did not come 'to the notice of the Officers of the Order with or without publicity'.
“This suggests that members of the Order were more concerned about covering up the bad behaviour of other members and preventing the Order’s reputation being tarnished than they were about fair and open process or protecting victims.”
The report also adds that an official investigation – called Operation Hesper – found that there was a cover up relating to Hayman.
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