Townshend: My life has changed

Pete Townshend today told for the first time how his life has totally changed since he was cautioned for child sex offences.

Talking to the Evening Standard, the Who guitarist described how he now realises he is not a "rock 'n'roll invincible" but called his life "wonderful".

Speaking at his £8 million Richmond home, Townshend, 57, said: "Everyone is so kind to me, and they seem to always want to give me the benefit of any doubt.

"Not one death threat have I received, though on Day One, before I was actually arrested, I got one really strange letter talking about my big nose.

"I have never heard any abuse of any kind. A few turned-up noses perhaps - but mostly smiles, congratulations and 'love your music'.

"I am not a recluse. I eat out locally without security. I go to parties and I'm going to the theatre. I am fine. I don't try to pretend that what happened to me was not serious, nor that it hasn't affected me."

Two months ago Townshend was placed on the Sex Offenders' Register for five years after accepting a police caution for paying to access a child porn website. He now has a criminal record and must provide fingerprint and DNA samples which will be added to a sex offenders' database.

He said today: "It has not destroyed me, made me frightened, nor has it stopped me doing my work or living my normal life.

"What it has done is made me realise I am not above the law, I am not rock 'n' roll invincible, and I cannot save the world from internet sewage. Silence is what I would like for a while, but it seems impossible.

"This year has been a tough one, but contrary to what one report wrote yesterday, I am not depressed, my neighbours are not abusing me - far from it, they go out of their way to show me warmth and understanding - and I have not received death threats.

"I have a driver who acts as a kind of bodyguard and I have a night security man - but I always have. I hate the idea that anyone might believe my intentions were criminal, but I do believe great good has come out of it all.

"I know I am not above the law, but the law on the access of indecent images on the internet was changed in this country after I did my research.

"I'm not stating this to make an excuse. But surely anyone can see if that is a fact, and it is, why would I be ashamed of the subsequent due process of law acting against me?"

He concluded: "But I am deeply sorry for the trouble and pain I've caused: even the investigating officer who first found my name on the porn site database was a Who fan, and was saddened.

"But I am not sad. I am out of the war against childporn, but the war continues and that is what matters."