ERNEST DOWNING CAUGHT IN BRIDGNORTH WITH ILLEGAL IMAGES AND BANNED FROM PUBLIC INTERNET USE

In June 2012, a serious incident unfolded at Bridgnorth that led to the arrest and court proceedings against Ernest Ronald Downing, a 62-year-old resident of Cantreyn Drive in Bridgnorth. The events began when staff at Bridgnorth Library observed suspicious activity involving Downing. He was seen taking photographs of young girls using a computer within the library premises. Concerned by his actions, the library staff promptly alerted authorities, leading to police intervention.

Following the incident on August 17 of the previous year, police officers visited Downing’s residence to conduct a thorough investigation. During the search, they discovered nearly 30 indecent images stored on USB sticks, which depicted children in compromising and inappropriate situations. Among these images, nine were identified as photographs taken by Downing himself, capturing an unidentified young girl sitting on a bridge at the Severn Valley Railway station in Bridgnorth. Some of these images were zoomed in on her underwear, indicating a disturbing level of voyeurism and exploitation, as was revealed during the court proceedings.

Downing was subsequently charged with making indecent photographs of children. He admitted to three such charges during a previous hearing, and on the day of sentencing, he appeared before Telford Magistrates Court to face the consequences of his actions. The court heard that the images on the USB sticks were created over a period spanning from April 2007 to April of the previous year, indicating a sustained pattern of offending. Experts classified all the images as Level 1, which is considered the least serious category of indecent images, but nonetheless a serious criminal matter.

In response to the evidence presented, the magistrates imposed a comprehensive sentence on Downing. He was ordered to complete a three-year community order that includes supervision requirements, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his conduct. Additionally, he was mandated to pay court costs amounting to £85. A significant aspect of his sentence involved registration on the sex offenders’ register for the next five years, a legal requirement aimed at monitoring and managing his potential risk to the community.

Furthermore, a sexual offences prevention order was issued, explicitly prohibiting Downing from accessing the internet in any public place, including libraries. This restriction is designed to prevent further offenses and to limit his ability to view or distribute indecent images. All the images found on the USB sticks are set to be destroyed, removing the material from circulation and reducing the risk of further harm.

During the court hearing, Mr. Jamie Wade, representing Downing, emphasized that his client was a man of good character with no prior convictions, attempting to contextualize the case and perhaps mitigate the severity of the sentence. Nonetheless, the court’s decision reflects the seriousness with which such offenses are regarded, especially given the involvement of minors and the potential harm caused by such material.