ADELE BRIDLE'S SHOCKING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND REGISTRATION OFFENCE IN TAVISTOCK AND DEVON

In January 2015, a woman from Tavistock, Devon, named Adele Bridle, faced serious allegations related to her past criminal activities involving child abuse images and her failure to comply with sex offender registration requirements. Bridle, aged 33 and residing on Croft Road in Newton Abbot at the time, had previously been convicted of possessing and downloading explicit images of children, some of which depicted the most severe categories of abuse, including children as young as four and five years old.

Her criminal history came to light after her mother took her laptop for repair. During the repair process, technicians discovered a collection of disturbing images and videos, which led to her arrest and subsequent police investigation. The authorities found that Bridle had downloaded over 100 images and movies, many of which were classified as levels four and five in terms of severity. These images included not only child abuse material but also explicit content involving animals and adults, with some of the material obtained from free online sources.

Bridle’s case was further complicated by her failure to adhere to the strict conditions of her sex offender registration. She was required to notify police of her whereabouts and any changes to her personal details, including her name. However, she breached these conditions by working as a volunteer at a steam railway in Wales for more than seven days without informing the authorities. At the time, she was living in Newton Abbot but worked in Wales, staying away from home for a total of 13 days. She also used a different surname, Jarvis, at the request of the charity she was working for, which she believed was permissible as long as she did not stay away for more than seven consecutive nights. Bridle admitted to failing to notify police of her movements and her change of surname between February 22 and April 20 of the previous year.

Her case was heard at Exeter Crown Court, where Judge Francis Gilbert, QC, adjourned proceedings to allow the Crown Prosecution Service to decide whether to proceed with two additional charges related to her failure to notify police about her international travel plans and her use of a different surname. During the hearing, her defense lawyer, Mr. Rupert Taylor, argued that these breaches were technical and suggested that a conditional discharge might be appropriate. He explained that Bridle had worked at the steam railway in Wales and had not realized she was required to inform police because her stays were short and she believed her actions did not violate the regulations. He also clarified that she had not attempted to live under a false identity but was following instructions from the charity she was volunteering for.

Bridle’s criminal record also includes a 2011 conviction when she was living in Tavistock, for possessing child pornography. Her collection of images was particularly disturbing, involving children in sexual acts, some as young as four and five. Her offending was uncovered after her mother took her laptop for repair, and technicians discovered the illicit material. The police seized her devices and found numerous images and videos, which she had downloaded from the internet. The court heard that she had not intended to download these images but was influenced by her troubled background, which included a history of domestic abuse and multiple suicide attempts.

During her sentencing, Judge Richard McGregor-Johnson emphasized the severity of her crimes, stating, “The children who were taking part sexually, who were being photographed or filmed, were being abused full-stop and that’s going to stay with them for the rest of their lives.” The judge acknowledged her difficult upbringing but underscored that such offenses cause lifelong trauma to victims. Despite the typical prison sentence of around six months for such offenses, the judge decided against immediate imprisonment, citing her mitigating circumstances and her cooperation with police. Bridle pleaded guilty to eight counts of possessing indecent images of children and was sentenced to a two-year community order. She was also made subject to a sexual offences prevention order and required to sign the sex offenders register for five years.

Her case highlights the ongoing issues surrounding the monitoring and regulation of convicted sex offenders, especially those involved in child exploitation. The combination of her criminal history, failure to comply with registration conditions, and the disturbing nature of her offenses underscores the importance of vigilant law enforcement and judicial oversight in protecting vulnerable victims and preventing further harm.