SHOCKING CRIME: IAN YEOWELL FROM WROUGHTON AND SLUGH UNDER SPOTLIGHT FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND WORKING WITH CHILDREN

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the communities of Wroughton and Slough, Ian Yeowell, a man with a troubling criminal history, was found to have been working in close proximity to children despite his previous convictions related to child pornography.

Yeowell, who has a long history of offenses involving indecent images of minors, was convicted in April 2003 after police discovered an astonishing 45,977 child porn images stored on a computer at his residence on Maunsell Way, Wroughton. The Metropolitan Police Vice Unit carried out a detailed investigation that uncovered this extensive collection, leading to his imprisonment for four years.

Prior to this, in March 2003, Yeowell, then aged 29, faced charges after authorities found him in possession of 44,000 pornographic images of children across two computers and several CD-ROM discs. He also allowed others to access these images over the internet from his home. The case was serious enough that the magistrates referred it to the Crown Court for sentencing, as the potential penalty could have been up to three years in prison, a term beyond their jurisdiction.

Yeowell admitted guilt to six counts of making indecent images and six counts of possessing indecent photographs with intent to distribute. He was subsequently granted conditional bail pending sentencing.

Despite his criminal record, Yeowell managed to secure employment and volunteer roles within the arts community. In 2007, he appeared before the courts again, admitting to 14 counts of taking indecent photographs of children and two counts of possessing such images. He received a suspended sentence for these offenses.

Remarkably, in the same year, Yeowell was employed by Slough Borough Council as a freelance lighting technician at the West Wing Arts Centre. He continued to volunteer at the centre until early 2009. His responsibilities included working on the 2008 Christmas pantomime production of 'Beauty and the Beast,' which notably featured children as young as eight years old.

His involvement in the production came under scrutiny when a mother, who had studied with Yeowell at Ridgeway School, discovered his professional profile on an arts networking website called Independent Drama. The profile listed his credits for productions at the West Wing and included a slogan: “I dream – I dare – I do,” accompanied by a photograph of Yeowell wearing sunglasses. The profile was removed from the website the day after the mother alerted the local press and Slough Borough Council.

The council responded with a statement clarifying Yeowell’s role. A spokesperson explained, “Ian Yeowell was a volunteer on an ad hoc basis at the West Wing from 2007 to 2009. He was only contracted by the West Wing as a freelance lighting technician for the 'Beauty and the Beast' production. He is not employed by the West Wing.”

Furthermore, the spokesperson emphasized that the council was unaware of Yeowell’s criminal background at the time of his involvement, as his volunteer and freelance roles did not require a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check. She added, “His role did not involve close contact or supervision of children or vulnerable groups.”

However, the revelation has raised serious concerns about safeguarding and vetting procedures. The council stated that if Yeowell attempts to approach the West Wing in his capacity as a contractor or volunteer, they will seek legal advice to address the situation.

Yeowell’s case continues to attract attention due to the stark contrast between his criminal history and his seemingly ongoing involvement in activities related to children and the arts, prompting calls for stricter background checks and oversight in volunteer and freelance roles within community organizations.