ADAM DOWNS SHAMES DUMBARTON WITH CHILD PORNOGRAPHY SCANDAL
| Red Rose Database
Dumbarton Child Sexual Abuser
In April 2017, a disturbing case unfolded in Dumbarton involving Adam Downs, a man who previously held a prominent position at an animal shelter. Downs was brought before Dumbarton Sheriff Court to face serious allegations after police uncovered a significant collection of indecent images of children on his personal devices. The investigation revealed that Downs had been in possession of these illicit images over an extended period, spanning from March 29, 2005, to June 13, 2016.
Downs, aged 32 at the time, was well known in the community for his role as an assistant manager at the Scottish SPCA rehoming centre in Dumbarton, where he was responsible for caring for abandoned and neglected animals. His arrest last year marked a dramatic fall from grace, leading to his suspension and eventual dismissal from the charity. The police raid on his home, located on the same site as the rehoming centre, was initiated early in the morning, precisely at 7:50 am on June 13, 2016.
During the search, officers from the cyber crime unit seized multiple devices, including two discs labeled 'graphics new and old' and 'graphics disc 2,' a mini HD camera, and a mobile phone. A preliminary examination of these items revealed the presence of numerous indecent images of children, categorized as level C, which is considered highly serious. Specifically, the officers found 264 images and a video on the two discs, along with an additional 254 images stored on a memory card in the mini camera. Of these, 50 images were classified as the most severe category, indicating extreme content. Seven more images, also categorized as level C, were located on Downs' phone but had been deleted prior to the search, rendering them inaccessible.
In court, the prosecution detailed that Downs had admitted to possessing these images and explained that he was engaged in what he termed a 'vigilante phase.' He claimed that his intent was to locate and identify child abusers connected to a woman he knew, and he believed the images he was viewing might be related to her case. However, the court was informed that the images he possessed depicted children of various nationalities, including Russian and Thai minors, which made it impossible for them to be related to the woman he referenced.
During the hearing, Downs' legal representative, Douglas Thomson, described his client as a 'family man' and acknowledged that Downs had not viewed the images for some time. Thomson emphasized that Downs' partner had remained supportive throughout the ordeal. Despite this, the court was told that a custodial sentence was a possible outcome given the gravity of the offence. The defense also highlighted that the number of images in Downs' possession was relatively small compared to other cases, and only one video was involved. Nevertheless, the court recognized the severity of the content involved.
Judge Maxwell Hendry, presiding over the case, ordered Downs to complete 200 hours of unpaid community service within six months. Additionally, the court mandated the forfeiture of the discs and camera containing the illicit images. Downs was also placed on the sex offenders’ register for a period of three years. The judge deferred sentencing until April 19, 2017, to allow for a comprehensive social work report, emphasizing the seriousness of the matter and the need to determine an appropriate penalty based on a full understanding of Downs' background.
Downs, aged 32 at the time, was well known in the community for his role as an assistant manager at the Scottish SPCA rehoming centre in Dumbarton, where he was responsible for caring for abandoned and neglected animals. His arrest last year marked a dramatic fall from grace, leading to his suspension and eventual dismissal from the charity. The police raid on his home, located on the same site as the rehoming centre, was initiated early in the morning, precisely at 7:50 am on June 13, 2016.
During the search, officers from the cyber crime unit seized multiple devices, including two discs labeled 'graphics new and old' and 'graphics disc 2,' a mini HD camera, and a mobile phone. A preliminary examination of these items revealed the presence of numerous indecent images of children, categorized as level C, which is considered highly serious. Specifically, the officers found 264 images and a video on the two discs, along with an additional 254 images stored on a memory card in the mini camera. Of these, 50 images were classified as the most severe category, indicating extreme content. Seven more images, also categorized as level C, were located on Downs' phone but had been deleted prior to the search, rendering them inaccessible.
In court, the prosecution detailed that Downs had admitted to possessing these images and explained that he was engaged in what he termed a 'vigilante phase.' He claimed that his intent was to locate and identify child abusers connected to a woman he knew, and he believed the images he was viewing might be related to her case. However, the court was informed that the images he possessed depicted children of various nationalities, including Russian and Thai minors, which made it impossible for them to be related to the woman he referenced.
During the hearing, Downs' legal representative, Douglas Thomson, described his client as a 'family man' and acknowledged that Downs had not viewed the images for some time. Thomson emphasized that Downs' partner had remained supportive throughout the ordeal. Despite this, the court was told that a custodial sentence was a possible outcome given the gravity of the offence. The defense also highlighted that the number of images in Downs' possession was relatively small compared to other cases, and only one video was involved. Nevertheless, the court recognized the severity of the content involved.
Judge Maxwell Hendry, presiding over the case, ordered Downs to complete 200 hours of unpaid community service within six months. Additionally, the court mandated the forfeiture of the discs and camera containing the illicit images. Downs was also placed on the sex offenders’ register for a period of three years. The judge deferred sentencing until April 19, 2017, to allow for a comprehensive social work report, emphasizing the seriousness of the matter and the need to determine an appropriate penalty based on a full understanding of Downs' background.