The Who’s Pete Townshend is at the center of a child porn controversy after a British paper reported that an “unnamed” UK rock star was under investigation for his involvement with online child porn. 

Townshend admits that he has paid to view child porn on the Internet but claims that he was simply investigating the websites in his “one-man battle” against child porn. 

Townshend is asking authorities to check his computer to prove that he was simply viewing child porn sites for his research. 

The rock star spoke with the British newspaper The Sun shortly after a story surfaced that said one rock star was under investigation. Townshend told The Sun, "It is important they are able to convince themselves that, if I did anything illegal, I did it purely for research. I am not a pedophile."

"I would be prepared to have the hard drive of my computer analyzed by the police," said Townshend. 

Townshend said he first came across child porn on the Internet six years ago while surfing the web with his son. He said he was outraged by it.  In a statement he issued Saturday after the original story broke in the U.K. press Townshend claimed that he went on a crusade to help stop online child porn and had also visited some questionable sites while doing research for his autobiography. 

"I have been writing my childhood autobiography for the past seven years," Townshend said in the statement. "I believe I was sexually abused between the age of five and six and a half when in the care of my maternal grandmother who was mentally ill at the time. 

"I cannot remember clearly what happened, but my creative work tends to  throw up nasty shadows — particularly in 'Tommy.'

"Some of the things I have seen on the Internet have informed my book which I hope will be published later this year."

In an interview with The Sun, Townsend explains his reaction to first finding child porn online, "I saw the first awful photo by accident. It repelled me and shocked me to my very core. 

"I have looked at child porn sites maybe three or four times in all, the front pages and previews. But I have only entered once using a credit card and I have never downloaded. 

"With hindsight, it was very foolish but I felt so angered about what was going on it blurred my judgment."

"I have never purchased any forms of child pornography or wished to own any, " he told the Sun. 

The investigation that sparked this controversy is codenamed “Operation Ore” by British law enforcement and so far more 1,300 arrest have been made in the U.K. as a result of the of investigation.  Reuters reports that some of the information that led to these arrests came from U.S. law enforcement agencies who are working with British officials investigating approximately 250,000 suspected pedophiles. They are using credit card purchasing information to track down suspects who have purchased child porn online. 

Townshend’s bandmate Roger Daltrey also spoke with The Sun and went on record saying he believes Townshend is innocent of the allegations. 

"Pete was very angry about how easy it was to get hold of child pornography on the Internet. My gut instinct is that he is not a pedophile and I know him better than most." 

Reuters reports that British law enforcement will not comment on the ongoing investigation and will neither confirm nor deny if Townshend is suspect in the probe. 

Update 1-16-03: 

Since our original report Townshend had been arrested by London police and questioned by authorities almost an hour and a half. During the arrest Police confiscated the hard drive from Townshend’s computer. 

Townsend was released early Tuesday morning following questioning. He signed an agreement with Police stating that he would return to the station later this month for more questioning.

According to Reuters, “Townshend has not been charged with a crime. Under British law, suspects are not charged immediately upon arrest and some arrested people are eventually released without charge.

“Townshend looked haggard and pale as he was driven to the  police station yesterday. Police did not officially identify him as a suspect, saying only that they had arrested a 57-year-old man on suspicion of making and possessing indecent images of children and of incitement to distribute them. A police spokesperson confirmed privately that the  suspect was Townshend.”
 

more on The Who