EDWIN WHITE FROM WOODBURY BANNED AFTER TRAIN PHOTO SCANDAL IN DEVON AND CORNWALL

In April 2017, a disturbing case involving a 46-year-old man from Woodbury, named Edwin Charles White, drew significant attention from authorities and the public alike. White was found to have engaged in highly inappropriate and invasive behavior on a train traveling between Exeter and Barnstaple, a route that connects several key locations in Devon and Cornwall.

White’s misconduct came to light after a young girl, only 15 years old, reported feeling harassed while on the train. She noticed that a man sitting opposite her was repeatedly taking photographs of her without her consent. Alarmed and distressed by his actions, she took a photograph of him to report the incident to the police. Her reaction was driven by the unsettling realization that her privacy was being violated in a public setting, and her distress was compounded by the fact that she was being targeted while simply commuting.

The girl’s complaint prompted further investigation. On November 14, a second victim, a 21-year-old woman, also came forward, alleging that she had been photographed without permission while on the same train. Two days later, police officers boarded the train with the younger girl and made an arrest. During the subsequent search of White’s mobile phone, authorities discovered a disturbing collection of images. The device contained approximately 2,900 photographs of females, including 481 images of the 15-year-old girl, which White had captioned with the words ‘sexy schoolgirl’. Additionally, there were 93 images of another woman, labeled ‘sexy girl on train’, indicating a pattern of predatory behavior.

Prosecutors revealed that White had admitted to taking photographs of women on multiple occasions, claiming that he was attracted to women he found attractive, regardless of the setting. During his interview with police, White acknowledged that his actions were inappropriate and out of order, but he did not initially recognize the severity of his conduct. He pleaded guilty to one count of harassment, which covered the period from February to November 2016, and also admitted to a second offence under the railway byelaws 6 and 24, which prohibit behavior that molests or interferes with the comfort or convenience of others on the railway.

White, who chose to represent himself in court, expressed remorse, stating, ‘All I can say is that I didn’t realize how serious it was until this happened. It won’t happen again – I don’t want to go down this road again.’ The magistrates responded by imposing a criminal behaviour order (CBO) that will last for three years. This order mandates White to complete 70 hours of unpaid community service and explicitly prohibits him from taking photographs of any person at any location without their explicit permission. The chairman of the bench emphasized the importance of respecting individuals’ privacy, stating, ‘I hope this is a salutary lesson that this behaviour is not acceptable. You have been at this for quite some time. No-one likes pictures taken of them without permission, regardless of looks and where they are – I hope you realize that.’

White’s case highlights ongoing concerns about privacy and inappropriate conduct in public spaces, especially on public transportation routes connecting key locations in Devon and Cornwall. The authorities’ response underscores the seriousness with which such violations are treated, aiming to protect individuals from invasive and predatory behavior in everyday settings.