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Latest 26 January 2026
Richard Dunstan: Update
In December we reported that a complaint had been made to the police in respect of Mr Richard Dunstan, a “good friend” of the Sex Matters hate group.
The complaint followed speculation by Mr Dunstan on X that, as a child, Jolyon Maugham, our founder, had enjoyed being raped by “some dirty old men”. His speculation perpetuated an enormously harmful myth that child victims of sexual abuse enjoy it.
We also reported that Maugham planned to take legal advice on other legal remedies for Dunstan’s broader campaign against Good Law Project, him and his family.
Following the complaint the Metropolitan Police took a statement from Mr Maugham and contacted Mr Dunstan. Mr Dunstan then emailed Mr Maugham, unprompted, and said:
“I would like to apologise unreservedly to you, your family and GLP staff for my recent comments on social media. These were crass and deeply regrettable.”
“I would be happy to agree the text of an apology for you to share publicly, should you wish.”
“To ensure that there is no repeat, I undertake to withdraw entirely, and permanently, from all public debate about you, the GLP and all related matters. I will delete not just those recent social media posts for which I now apologise, but also all previous posts, by deleting my X/Twitter account. And I will delete all relevant blog posts.”
“To be clear, I am appealing to you to bestow compassion on someone who is now in desperate need…”
“I may not deserve it, but please give my family this chance, Jolyon. They do not deserve to suffer for my actions.”
Following those messages, which Maugham passed on to the Metropolitan Police, they asked whether he would be happy for the potential offence under section 127 Communications Act 2003 to be treated as a Community Resolution. Maugham confirmed he was.
Maugham also asked for Dunstan to make a £5,000 donation to Refuge and to agree to apologise in the following terms:
“I apologise unreservedly to Jolyon Maugham, his family and Good Law Project for my harassment of them. I accept many of my statements were false and my campaign was harmful and intrusive. I have paid a substantial sum to Refuge in settlement of all claims against me.”
Mr Dunstan has declined to do so and so Maugham intends to bring civil proceedings against him.