Sex Offender Altered Indecent Image

A sex offender from Cambridgeshire who superimposed the head of a child he knew onto an indecent image has been jailed.

Christopher Downes, of Oak Crescent, Dry Drayton, was flagged up to police by the National Crime Agency (NCA) after a photo editing software account linked to him was used to alter the image.

The 31-year-old was arrested at his home on 12 March and a phone and tablet were seized. These were analysed and found to contain 41 indecent images of children, including 12 category A – the most severe. Seven indecent videos of children were also found, three of which were category A.

In police interview Downes answered “no comment” to all questions but on 21 March he pleaded guilty to three charges of making indecent images of children at Cambridge Magistrates’ Court.

He was sentenced at Cambridge Crown Court on Friday (28 April) where he was handed one year and six months in prison.

DC Andrew McKeane, who investigated, said: “Downes had only been on the Sex Offenders Register since January, and to offend so soon after shows his complete disregard for the law and entrenched views on the matter. 

“A child is victimised when an indecent image is taken and every time it is viewed or shared. Protecting young people from harm is one of our top priorities and we have specially trained officers who are there to support victims and bring offenders to justice.

“I am grateful for the work of our partner agencies, who are imperative in safeguarding the most vulnerable in our society. We will not stop pursuing people who are willing to place children at risk of harm and will work tirelessly to put them before the courts.”