JOHN BIDMEAD FROM CULLOMPTON SENTENCED TO 19 YEARS FOR CHILD ABUSE IMAGES AND SEXUAL ATTACKS IN DEVON

In a case that has shocked the local community and the wider region, retired lorry driver John Bidmead, aged 65, of Cullompton, Devon, has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term of 19 years following a series of heinous crimes involving child abuse and exploitation. The conviction stems from a disturbing investigation into his extensive collection of child abuse images and videos, which police described as the largest and most disturbing they had encountered in the South West.

Bidmead’s criminal activities spanned over a decade, during which he engaged in multiple sexual assaults on young girls and amassed a staggering number of indecent images. His case only came to light after international law enforcement agencies, including Interpol, flagged his online activities related to extreme child pornography. This led detectives to conduct a raid on his residence in Cullompton, where they uncovered a horrifying trove of illegal material.

During the raid, officers caught Bidmead in the act of streaming a child abuse video on his computer, which was being displayed on a large 50-inch television. The police were appalled to discover not only the largest collection of indecent images they had ever seen but also a computer file containing 124 homemade videos depicting him raping and abusing a child. The investigation revealed that Bidmead had created and stored over a million images and videos, a figure that police initially estimated at 600,000 but later acknowledged as likely being much higher.

Further examination of his devices uncovered approximately 1,500 additional files featuring four other young girls, some of whom he had touched or paid to pose for photographs. It was revealed that Bidmead had bribed some victims with sweets or treats while babysitting them, exploiting their innocence for his own depraved purposes. The sheer volume of material was so vast that authorities were unable to count every file, but the evidence was unequivocal and deeply disturbing.

The court heard that Bidmead had admitted to four counts of rape, six counts of indecent or sexual assault, and 19 counts related to the taking or making of indecent photographs. The evidence presented included images and movies showing children engaged in various sexual acts, some involving sadism, torture, or even bestiality. The prosecution detailed the horrifying content, including over 576,000 images and 8,000 movies of naked children, as well as numerous other files depicting less severe sexual activity and adult-child sexual encounters.

Judge Phillip Wassall described the scale of Bidmead’s crimes as “staggering” and praised the police team for their meticulous work in cataloging and analyzing the vast amount of material. During sentencing at Exeter Crown Court, Bidmead remained silent, head bowed, but it was noted that he was so ashamed of his actions that he expressed a desire to die in prison. He even sent a letter to the court, claiming he was unable to sign his name due to the shame and disgrace he believed he had brought upon his family.

Prosecutor Mr. Richard Crabb explained that the investigation was initiated after Russian authorities tipped off UK police about Bidmead’s online activities. The initial discovery was shocking: a large television screen in his home was streaming child abuse videos, which were being downloaded onto his computer. The subsequent search uncovered numerous devices, including computers and external drives, containing the extensive illegal material.

One particularly disturbing aspect of the case involved a young girl, estimated to be around eight or nine years old, who appeared in 124 videos of Bidmead abusing her. She was later traced and revealed that she had been groomed into participating in sexual role-playing games, which were all recorded. The girl’s victim impact statement expressed her feelings of difficulty trusting others, along with feelings of anger, sadness, and confusion.

Further investigations identified three other girls aged between eight and twelve, all of whom had been photographed naked or touched by Bidmead. Some of these victims had been persuaded to pose for what Bidmead called “photo-shoots,” with some receiving additional payment for stripping naked. The police estimate that the total number of images and videos exceeds one million, making this case the largest of its kind in the region.

During his sentencing, defense lawyer Mr. Sean Brunton stated that Bidmead was remorseful and expected to spend the rest of his life in prison. He emphasized that his client believed this punishment was fitting, given the extent of the harm caused and the destruction of multiple lives, including his own.