DAMON BOWER FROM SOUTHSEA AND SWINDON CAUGHT WITH CHILD ABUSE VIDEOS IN TORQUAY

In a disturbing case that spans multiple locations including Southsea, Swindon, and Torquay, Damon Bower, a man with a troubling history, has been brought before the court following the discovery of highly inappropriate and illegal material on his electronic devices.

The incident came to light after police investigations revealed that Bower, who now resides in Torquay, Devon, had been involved in the possession of child abuse images and videos. Previously, he was known for his role as a local councillor in Swindon, where he served as vice-chairman of Haydon Wick Parish Council until July 2018, and had also been active in community initiatives.

According to court reports, authorities visited Bower’s residence in North Swindon last June after receiving a tip-off that illicit material had been uploaded from his address to the internet. During the search, detectives uncovered a disturbing collection of images and videos on his mobile phone, including a film depicting a girl estimated to be between eight and ten years old being sexually assaulted. The material was classified in the most severe category of child abuse content. In addition to this, they found other videos in a less severe category and a number of indecent images.

Furthermore, investigators discovered a series of fantasy stories on Bower’s devices that detailed child abuse scenarios. Although he was not charged with distributing or sharing these stories, their presence added to the evidence against him.

During police interviews, Bower admitted to understanding what indecent images of children entailed. He acknowledged that he was the owner of the devices in question and expressed a vehement opposition to child pornography, citing a personal connection—knowing someone who had been raped at a young age—as a reason for his stance. He claimed he would never allow harm to come to children.

Bower also admitted to engaging in fantasy chat about child sexual abuse but could not recall how he obtained the images, suggesting they might have come through private messages or other means. He expressed remorse, stating he knew his actions were wrong and apologized for his conduct.

The court heard that Bower, who was formerly based in Oakhurst before moving to Southsea, Hampshire, pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children.

In sentencing, Judge Peter Crabtree imposed a three-year community order, emphasizing that this was a serious but alternative measure to immediate imprisonment. The judge noted that the number of images recovered was relatively low and that probation services believed Bower could be managed and rehabilitated within the community.

As part of his sentence, Bower is required to participate in a sex offenders’ programme, complete 100 hours of unpaid work, undertake 15 days of rehabilitation activities, and adhere to a sexual harm prevention order.

Bower’s background as a local councillor included a tenure from 2015 until his resignation in July 2018. During his time in office, he served as vice-chairman and later as chairman of the planning committee. He was known for supporting community projects such as the redevelopment of children’s play areas in late 2016 and advocating for faster broadband speeds in North Swindon in 2017. He also publicly questioned Wiltshire’s police response to gang violence, criticizing what he described as police ineptitude, and residents had expressed concerns about safety, with some patrolling streets themselves.

This case highlights the ongoing issues surrounding online child exploitation and the importance of vigilant law enforcement efforts to combat such heinous crimes, regardless of the offender’s previous community involvement or public service.