ALAN SEWELL, BEDFORD SCOUT LEADER, CAUGHT WITH CHILD SEX ABUSE AND EXTREME PORNOGRAPHY IMAGES
In a disturbing case that has shocked the Bedford community, Alan Sewell, a long-standing scout leader with over three decades of involvement in the local scouting groups, was found guilty of possessing and downloading highly illegal and disturbing images.The 65-year-old, who had dedicated much of his life to working with children through the scouts and cubs, was arrested following a police raid on his residence in Bedford on September 14, 2017.
During the raid, law enforcement officers seized a Dell laptop along with other electronic devices from Sewell’s home on Aldburgh Close.
The investigation, which was conducted by authorities in Luton Crown Court, revealed a troubling collection of illicit material stored on his devices.
Prosecutor Fern Russell detailed that investigators uncovered a total of 55 images, including nine movies and five still photographs classified as Category A, which is designated for the most severe and illegal content.
Further examination revealed additional material: one movie and eight still images categorized as Category B, and 26 still images falling under Category C.
Alarmingly, investigators also found six images depicting extreme pornography, which involved women engaging in sexual acts with animals.
The majority of the images depicted children aged between 10 and 12, both male and female, highlighting the disturbing nature of the material Sewell had accessed.
When questioned by police last year, Sewell claimed that he had not viewed any child abuse images since the 2017 raid.
He stated that he had been involved with the scouts for over 30 years and had served as a leader of a cub group.
Despite his assertions, the evidence against him was substantial and led to his guilty plea on charges of making (downloading) Category A, B, and C images of children, as well as possessing extreme pornography.
During the sentencing hearing, Judge Rebecca Herbert addressed Sewell’s actions and background.
She remarked that Sewell had “developed an unhealthy attraction to children,” which was particularly troubling given his long-standing role in youth organizations.
The judge emphasized the contrast between Sewell’s volunteer work with the scouts and his criminal behavior, which betrayed the trust placed in him by the community.
As part of his sentence, Sewell was handed an 18-month community order.
This included a requirement to participate in 30 rehabilitation activity days aimed at addressing his offending behavior.
Additionally, he was fined £500.
The court also mandated that Sewell register as a sex offender and adhere to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for a period of ten years, ensuring ongoing monitoring and restrictions to prevent further harm.
