WALTER MCDOWELL FROM EASTWOOD ESCAPES LAW AND COMMITS MULTIPLE SEX CRIMES

In June 2003, a disturbing case emerged involving Walter McDowell, a man from Eastwood, whose failure to adhere to legal obligations allowed him to evade police detection for an extended period. McDowell, who had previously been convicted of indecency and had a history of paedophile behavior, was under strict legal requirements to inform authorities of any change of address as mandated by the 1997 Sex Offenders Act.

Despite this legal obligation, McDowell, then 55 years old and residing on Walker Street in Eastwood, deliberately chose not to notify the police when he moved. This omission was not accidental but a calculated move that enabled him to go underground without raising suspicion. Over the course of three years, during which he remained untraceable, it is now believed that McDowell committed numerous sexual offenses against a young girl, with the total number of crimes suspected to be in the hundreds.

Law enforcement agencies, upon realizing McDowell's disappearance, launched an extensive investigation to locate him. They reached out to his family members, neighbors, the Benefits Agency, and the Probation Service in an effort to piece together his whereabouts. Despite these efforts, McDowell managed to evade detection, effectively disappearing without leaving any concrete clues.

Under the provisions of the 1997 Sex Offenders Act, individuals like McDowell, who had previous convictions for indecency in 1985 involving two young girls aged eight and nine, were required to notify police of any change of address within 14 days. McDowell's prior convictions and his ongoing risk to children underscored the importance of strict monitoring. However, his failure to comply with these legal requirements allowed him to continue his predatory behavior undetected.

His most recent abuse began in 1999, when he used a child's fancy dress cat mask to blindfold his young victim and tied her hands behind her back with a plastic bag. The abuse persisted over several years, from 2000 to 2002, until police arrested him on September 13 of the previous year following a tip-off from an anonymous member of the public. The case was brought before Nottingham Crown Court, where McDowell faced multiple charges.

Last week, the court sentenced him to six years in prison for four counts of indecent assault. Additionally, he received a two-year sentence, to run concurrently, for failing to comply with the sex offenders' register. Judge Richard Inglis emphasized that McDowell should serve his sentence and then be released on license for a further four years. During the sentencing, the judge stated, “You were able to abuse this girl because you did not tell the police where you had gone. You groomed this girl for sexual purposes and exploited her. I have no confidence, after your release, that you will not pose a danger to children.”

Police described McDowell as a classic example of a long-term predatory paedophile. Detective Inspector Ian Winton, of Nottingham’s dangerous persons management unit, commented on the case, highlighting how such offenses can escalate over time as offenders’ fantasies become more sinister. The police had previously relied on a manual system to monitor sex offenders, which involved visiting known addresses and recording their presence. However, this system proved inadequate, as McDowell had managed to move without the authorities' knowledge.

Inspector Winton acknowledged the limitations of the old monitoring system, stating, “The old system was manual and made it difficult to keep track of offenders. The police recognize that a very small number of offenders do fail to comply with the register.”

McDowell, who pleaded guilty to the charges, is now registered as a sex offender for life. His case has raised serious concerns about the effectiveness of the current register and the measures in place to prevent offenders from slipping through the cracks, especially given the potential danger they pose to the community.