STUDENT STALKED STAFF MEMBERS AND CATALOGUED COVERT IMAGES
A college student found guilty of stalking and secretly collecting over a thousand images of staff and students has received a formal sentence.Ethan Fenwick, aged 19 from Tiverton, engaged in creating deepfake sexually explicit images and designed AI chatbots impersonating his victims for communication.
Fenwick stood before Exeter Crown Court on 13 January, admitting to two counts of stalking that caused significant distress or alarm.
The court handed down a three-year community order, comprising mandatory rehabilitation activities and 150 hours of unpaid work.
To safeguard the involved victims, lifetime restraining orders were issued, along with a sexual harm prevention order.
The court proceedings disclosed that the primary victims were staff members at Petroc College, where Fenwick was a student.
It was reported that Fenwick approached one victim in a corridor in July 2024, asking her to prom.
She declined, believing it was inappropriate.
Later, after summer break, he asked her out again, but she refused once more.
Subsequently, she observed Fenwick discreetly taking her photograph and later received friend requests on social media from accounts with disturbing bios—one threatening abduction and another suggesting sexual assault.
Police went to Fenwick’s home and arrested him, retrieving multiple digital devices.
During questioning, Fenwick admitted to twice asking the victim out but denied further misconduct.
He refused to unlock one of the devices.
The college’s safeguarding team provided records indicating Fenwick had made racist and misogynistic remarks and displayed hostility towards the LGBTQIA+ community.
Additional records revealed Fenwick had previously been expelled from a school and youth centre due to an obsession with a teacher and youth worker.
Interviews with staff indicated Fenwick’s obsessive behaviour, such as adjusting chairs to sit uncomfortably close and sharing misogynistic opinions.
This behaviour upset staff members, leading to at least one resignation.
The second victim recounted instances where Fenwick was seen filming her friend, which caused distress.
Both victims remained frightened, with one choosing to leave her job amid the concerns.
Digital investigations connected the social media communications to Fenwick’s home IP.
Authorities also discovered that he had attempted to mask his activities using fake accounts and email addresses.
A court-issued section 49 RIPA order compelled Fenwick to unlock his MacBook; non-compliance could have led to a two-year jail sentence.
He complied and provided the password.
Further forensic analysis revealed numerous images and videos involving staff and students aged 16-18, many edited or collaged into disturbing scenes, including a victim’s head next to adult film stars.
It was also uncovered that Fenwick had secretly recorded audio and used online tools to locate all associated social media accounts.
He had also created AI chat profiles of his victims, using audio and images secretly obtained and uploaded to an AI website.
