EDWARD BOWRON FROM WESTBURY-SUB-MENDIP ESCAPES LONG PRISON SENTENCE DESPITE CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSES IN TAUNTON

In April 2011, a disturbing case involving Edward Bowron, a resident of Westbury-sub-Mendip, drew significant attention due to the nature of his crimes and the legal outcome. Bowron, aged 50, was found guilty of possessing and downloading an extensive collection of child sexual abuse images and videos, with authorities uncovering over 6,000 such illicit materials stored on his personal devices. Despite the severity of the offenses, Bowron was not sentenced to a lengthy prison term but was instead handed a community-based order by the court.r>

Bowron’s arrest took place nearly a year prior to the sentencing, after police investigations revealed his subscription to a specialized website hosting illegal content. When law enforcement officials visited his residence, Bowron admitted to viewing these images and videos for nearly a decade, often multiple times a week. The police found a staggering number of illegal images on his laptop, including 5,227 images classified as Category One, which is considered the most disturbing, along with 136 images in Category Two, 353 in Category Three, and 287 in Category Four. Additionally, authorities discovered 20 video clips featuring children, predominantly young boys aged between six and 15 years old.r>

Bowron’s background was notable within his community, as he was recognized for his involvement in local business circles. He was a former leader of the Mendip Area Chamber of Commerce and previously managed Baily’s Sheepskin factory located on the Morlands industrial site in Glastonbury. His reputation was further established through his role as a junior rugby coach, which added to the community’s familiarity with him.r>

During the court proceedings at Taunton Crown Court, Bowron pleaded guilty to 17 charges related to the creation, possession, and distribution of indecent images of children. The judge, Graham Hume Jones, expressed his reservations about the sentence, citing the limitations imposed by the legal framework. He explained that a custodial sentence would not be sufficiently long to facilitate Bowron’s rehabilitation, which was a key consideration in his decision. Consequently, Bowron was sentenced to a three-year community and supervision order, along with a requirement to register as a sex offender for five years.r>

In his defense, Bowron’s legal representatives highlighted his lack of evidence in distributing the images and emphasized his history of social isolation, low self-esteem, and confused sexuality. His defense also pointed out that Bowron had shown remorse, engaged with police and medical professionals, and was undergoing psychological treatment, including cognitive behavioral therapy and psychiatric assessment. Furthermore, Bowron had expressed a desire to participate in a rehabilitation scheme based in Thames Valley aimed at addressing sexual offending behaviors.r>

The prosecution’s case was supported by the fact that Bowron had admitted to viewing such material for nearly ten years, which indicated a long-term pattern of offending. The court also ordered him to sign the sex offenders’ register for five years, a measure intended to monitor and manage his potential risk to the community.r>

Commenting on the case, a spokeswoman for the NSPCC in the South West region stated that while they could not comment on this specific case, they believed that sentences for crimes involving children should be proportionate to the harm caused. She emphasized the importance of appropriate sentencing and supervision, given the widespread circulation of child abuse images online, each representing a child who has been sexually exploited. The NSPCC underscored the urgent need to combat this issue and highlighted the importance of effective monitoring of offenders to prevent further harm.