JEROME DANGAR ARRESTED IN TINTAGEL: EXTREME PORNOGRAPHY AND POLICE RAID LEAD TO TRAGIC DEATH IN DARTMOOR PRISON

In a case that has shocked the community of Tintagel and drawn significant media attention, Jerome Dangar, a man previously associated with the King Arthur’s Arms pub in Tintagel, has tragically died while in custody at HMP Dartmoor. His death was confirmed by the Ministry of Justice, and it marks a somber end to a case that involved serious criminal charges related to the possession of extreme pornography.

Dangar, aged 45 at the time of his death, was sentenced in January at Truro Crown Court to serve 15 months in prison after pleading guilty to nine counts of possessing highly disturbing and illegal images. The images in question depicted acts of a vile nature, including threats to life and severe genital injuries. A pathologist who examined the material indicated that some of the acts may not have been staged, and there was a disturbing possibility that some of the individuals involved may have died during the filming process.

His arrest was the result of a meticulously planned police operation carried out on November 2, 2018, at the King Arthur’s Arms Inn in Tintagel. The raid involved over a dozen police officers, including a police dog handler, and was led by officers from Staffordshire Police, with support from Devon and Cornwall Police. The operation was executed with precision, and the police presence was significant, with three police vans and additional vehicles parked behind the pub, remaining at the scene for much of the day.

Following his arrest, Dangar appeared before Truro Magistrates’ Court on the following day, where he pleaded guilty to all nine charges related to the possession of extreme pornographic images. He also faced a separate charge of possessing an indecent image of a child, to which he pleaded not guilty. The case was subsequently transferred back to Truro Crown Court in March, where his legal representative, Chris Andrews, argued that Dangar had not engaged in any contact offending and that the restrictions imposed by the court were excessive. However, Judge Robert Linford dismissed these claims and refused to alter the conditions of the sexual risk order, which mandated that Dangar surrender his passport and prohibited him from traveling abroad for five years after his release.

In the weeks leading up to his death, Dangar had applied to the court to amend the travel restrictions, seeking permission to go on holiday after completing his sentence, which was scheduled for August of that year. His death at HMP Dartmoor on April 15, 2019, came just weeks after this application. The prison service spokesperson expressed their condolences, stating, “HMP Dartmoor prisoner Jerome Dangar died on 15 April 2019 and our thoughts are with his family and friends.” They also noted that, as with all deaths in custody, an independent investigation would be conducted by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman to determine the circumstances surrounding his passing.

Dangar’s case drew considerable media coverage, especially given the disturbing nature of the material involved and the police operation that led to his arrest. His death has raised questions about the safety and mental health of inmates in the prison system, and the community of Tintagel mourns the loss of a local figure whose actions and subsequent legal proceedings have left a lasting impact.