EDWARD GINZLER FROM STREET ORDERED TO REGISTER AS SEX OFFENDER AFTER CHILD IMAGE SCANDAL IN GLOUCESTERSHIRE

In March 2018, a man from Street, identified as Edward Ginzler, faced serious legal consequences after a lengthy investigation into his possession and viewing of indecent images of young girls. Ginzler, aged 50 and residing at Deerswood Gardens, was found to have engaged in this disturbing activity over a span of several years, specifically between July 29, 2011, and November 16, 2016, in the town of Glastonbury, Somerset.

Ginzler admitted to police that his initial interest in such images stemmed from curiosity. However, he also acknowledged that once he discovered how easily these images could be accessed online, he continued to download and view them regularly. His actions involved the creation and possession of multiple categories of illegal images, including some classified as the most serious Category A images of children.

The charges against him included nine counts of making the most serious Category A images, along with two additional counts involving the creation of 16 indecent photographs of children in Category B, and 40 images in Category C. These charges paint a disturbing picture of sustained and deliberate engagement with illegal material involving minors.

The case was brought to light after police executed a search at Ginzler’s residence, where he lived with his partner. Authorities had received information linking an IP address associated with his home to the downloading of indecent images of children. During the investigation, officers seized three hard drives from his property. When these drives were examined, they were found to contain the images referenced in the charges, confirming the suspicions of law enforcement.

Following his arrest, Ginzler was interviewed by police, during which he admitted that his viewing habits primarily involved images of girls aged between 11 and 13. He revealed that this behavior had persisted for approximately ten years, although the charges only covered a five-year period within that timeframe.

As part of the court proceedings, Ginzler was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register and was also subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which aims to restrict his future conduct and protect the public. The magistrates, sitting at Yeovil, decided to adjourn the case to allow the Probation Service to prepare a pre-sentence report. Ginzler was instructed to return to court on April 5 for sentencing. The magistrates did not rule out the possibility of referring the case to the Crown Court if they believed their sentencing powers were insufficient.

Until his next court appearance, Ginzler was released on unconditional bail, allowing him to remain free while the legal process continues. The case highlights ongoing concerns about the possession and distribution of illegal images of minors and underscores the importance of law enforcement efforts to combat such crimes.