ANDREW BROWN OF PETERBOROUGH FACES JAIL AFTER CHILD INDECENT IMAGE CHARGES
In March 2017, a significant case involving a former school governor from Peterborough culminated in a guilty verdict on multiple charges related to the possession and creation of indecent images of children.Andrew Brown, aged 61 and residing on Montague Road in Peterborough, was found guilty of three counts of possessing indecent images of minors, two counts of producing such images, and one count of possessing a prohibited image of a child.
Despite these convictions, he was acquitted of two additional charges concerning extreme pornographic images.
Brown had consistently denied all allegations brought against him.
His reaction upon hearing the jury’s verdict was one of shock; he appeared visibly distressed and struggled to stand as Judge Jonathan Cooper addressed him during the court proceedings.
The courtroom was filled with emotional support from friends and family members, who sat in the public gallery, visibly upset by the outcome.
The jury deliberated for over five and a half hours, reaching their verdicts by a majority of 10 to 2.
Following the guilty findings, Judge Cooper expressed his gratitude to the jury for their service and decided to grant Brown bail until the sentencing hearing scheduled for April 27 at Cambridge Crown Court.
The judge warned Brown that the starting point for these offences was a custodial sentence, indicating that he should be prepared for imprisonment.
The investigation was led by Detective Sergeant James Weston of the Paedophile Online Investigation Team (POLIT).
He commented on the case, stating, “I am pleased with the decision from the court today.
This was a complex investigation with increased risks due to the defendant’s position of trust.” He further explained that Brown’s denial throughout the investigation, especially regarding the possession of indecent, extreme, and prohibited images, necessitated extensive digital forensic work.
Weston emphasized the commitment of law enforcement to protect vulnerable individuals and to take decisive action against those who pose a significant risk.
The case’s origins trace back to a burglary at Brown’s residence on Park Road, Peterborough.
On October 24, 2015, Brown and his wife left their home around 10:15 am and returned approximately three hours later to find their property had been broken into.
The burglars had stolen three USB sticks, a laptop, £300 in cash, old mobile phones, and other miscellaneous items.
Four days after the break-in, on October 28, at about 7:10 am, Brown received a hand-delivered envelope containing a letter demanding £8,000 in cash.
Inside the envelope, he found three indecent images of a young boy and a note claiming that these images originated from the burglary.
The letter’s author threatened to release the images unless Brown paid the ransom and included a phone number for him to call.
Brown promptly reported the extortion attempt to the police.
Officers responded to his address and interviewed him as a witness.
During questioning, Brown denied any knowledge of the indecent images.
Investigators traced the phone number provided in the letter to Ryan Penfold, aged 29, of Tirrington, Bretton.
Penfold was arrested on October 28, 2015, and a search of his residence uncovered items stolen from Brown’s home.
Penfold subsequently pleaded guilty to charges of burglary, handling stolen goods, blackmail, and possession of class A and B drugs, receiving a sentence of two years and eight months in prison.
Forensic analysis of Brown’s electronic devices revealed a disturbing collection of 718 indecent images of children, some as young as three years old.
These images, which predated the burglary, included 600 still images and 118 videos.
The images were classified into categories, with 170 deemed to be in the most severe category A, 372 in category B, and 176 in category C.
Additionally, three prohibited images and two extreme pornographic images were recovered.
Brown was arrested on November 2, 2015, and admitted ownership of the devices but continued to deny any knowledge of the images.
He claimed that the images must have been planted by the burglars during a previous break-in.
On October 26 of the previous year, Brown appeared at Peterborough Crown Court to face the charges, maintaining that someone else, possibly the burglars, had placed the images on his devices.
As the case progressed, new evidence emerged, leading to a retrial that commenced on March 20, 2017.
During the trial, one count of making indecent images was dropped by the prosecution.
Prior to his arrest, Brown held the position of Chair of Governors at The Kings School in Park Road, Peterborough.
He also worked for the AQA examination board and Trinity College London, highlighting his trusted status within the community.
The court’s verdict marks a significant development in the ongoing efforts to combat child exploitation and online abuse, emphasizing the importance of digital investigations in uncovering such crimes.
