DAVID GUNN FROM CHIPPING NORTON AND STRATFORD UPON AVON CONVICTED OF CHILD INDECENCY IMAGES

In a case that has shocked the local communities of Chipping Norton and Stratford upon Avon, David Gunn, a former police employee, has been found guilty of serious crimes involving the creation and distribution of indecent images of children. The conviction follows a detailed investigation by the National Crime Agency (NCA), which uncovered disturbing online activity linked to Gunn.

Gunn, aged 55 and now residing on Bull Street in Stratford upon Avon, was initially detained in June 2016 after authorities suspected him of possessing illicit images of minors. The investigation revealed that Gunn had an active online persona known as ‘smokepig,’ which was identified in an online chatroom on June 22, 2015. This chatroom was reportedly streaming pre-recorded child sexual abuse material, a discovery that prompted further scrutiny of Gunn’s digital footprint.

Subsequent forensic analysis of his electronic devices uncovered that Gunn had accessed the same chatroom again in August 2015. During this period, he allegedly invited other users to observe him engaging in abuse involving a fictional eight-year-old nephew. Gunn claimed that his purpose was to trap other offenders and report them to law enforcement authorities. However, investigators found no evidence to support this assertion, as Gunn did not document his activities nor did he report any of his findings to the police.

Gunn’s actions and online behavior were brought before a jury at Reading Crown Court, where he faced multiple charges. The jury unanimously convicted him on five counts of making indecent images of children. The court has scheduled his sentencing for November 16, and the case continues to draw attention to the ongoing fight against online child exploitation.

Graham Ellis, operations manager at the NCA, commented on the case, stating, “Gunn was logged into the online chatroom at the time the pre-recorded images were being streamed, showing his interest in viewing such material. He claimed he invented an eight-year-old to trap other online users in the same chatroom, but didn’t provide us with any evidence this was his plan, and didn’t subsequently report it to police.”

He further emphasized the dangers posed by modern digital technology, noting, “Sharing images and moving footage has never been easier, whether that be on the dark web or on more conventional social media websites. Offenders think they won’t be found. They are wrong. The NCA and our law enforcement partners are committed to tackling the threat posed by offenders like Gunn, and will bring them to justice.”