ANTHONY FOWLER FROM EXMOUTH ON THE RUN AFTER FAILING TO APPEAR IN COURT FOR SEX OFFENSES
| Red Rose Database
Exmouth Child Sexual Abuser
In October 2018, a serious development unfolded in the case of Anthony Fowler, a known sex offender from Exmouth, who has now become a fugitive after failing to attend his scheduled sentencing hearing at Exeter Crown Court. The judge presiding over the case, Judge Peter Johnson, issued a warrant for Fowler’s immediate arrest, emphasizing the gravity of his absence and the potential risks involved.
Anthony Fowler, aged 45 and residing in Ryll Grove, Exmouth, has a long and troubling history of internet-based sexual offenses dating back to 2006. His criminal record includes multiple convictions related to the possession and distribution of child abuse images, as well as breaches of court orders designed to monitor and restrict his online activities. The recent breach involved his failure to inform authorities from the Public Protection Unit about three internet-enabled devices he had acquired, which was a violation of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) previously imposed on him.
Fowler’s history of deception and illegal online activity is extensive. In the past, he has used false identities to access online chat rooms, often posing as a young, fit man under the pseudonym Snowboarder Seth. His criminal record includes two prior jail sentences: one in 2011 for distributing child abuse images, and another in March of the previous year for breaching the SHPO and possessing images depicting severe child abuse on his mobile phone.
His latest breach of the court order led to his case being transferred from Exeter Magistrates Court to Exeter Crown Court for sentencing. However, Fowler’s failure to appear at the scheduled hearing resulted in Judge Johnson issuing a warrant for his arrest, explicitly stating that bail would not be granted. This is not the first time Fowler has absconded; he previously went on the run in 2007 when he was caught with child abuse images while already on a sex offenders’ course. During that period, he fled to France, where he worked as a furniture maker for four years until he was apprehended through a European Arrest Warrant in November 2011.
Further back in his criminal history, Fowler was involved in a disturbing incident in February 2017, when he was jailed for boasting online about going to the beach to look at young girls. He had been actively exchanging child abuse images with strangers in online forums, posing as a young snowboarder. Despite his online bravado, Fowler is known to still live with his parents and walks with crutches due to a back injury sustained while working as a roofer.
His criminal record reveals a pattern of offending that spans over a decade. He was first convicted in 2006 for accessing child abuse images while working as an IT technician at Exmouth Community College. His previous convictions include multiple charges related to the possession and distribution of indecent images of children, with some images depicting children as young as three suffering serious abuse. Fowler has served at least one jail sentence for these offenses.
In the most recent case, Fowler admitted to breaching a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) by accessing child abuse images and using an online alias, despite being explicitly banned from such activity. At Exeter Crown Court, Judge Erik Salomonsen sentenced him to eight months in prison, citing his blatant disregard for court orders and his apparent lack of remorse. The judge highlighted Fowler’s calculated risk-taking and his understanding of the restrictions placed upon him, which he chose to ignore.
Prosecutor Mr. Paul Grumbar detailed Fowler’s extensive history, including his 2006 and 2011 convictions, and the fact that police found him with 214 images of children, 25 of which were classified as the most severe category A. These images included stills from movies depicting serious abuse. Police also discovered chat logs from Skype and Kik on his devices, indicating ongoing exchanges of child abuse material. Fowler admitted to knowing he was not permitted to access such images but did so anyway, citing his back injury as a reason for his actions.
Authorities are now actively seeking Fowler following his failure to appear in court, and his history of fleeing justice underscores the seriousness of his case. His previous attempts to evade law enforcement, including fleeing to France, demonstrate a pattern of avoiding accountability for his heinous crimes. The case continues to be a stark reminder of the ongoing threat posed by individuals like Fowler, who have repeatedly violated court orders and engaged in the exploitation of children through online platforms.
Anthony Fowler, aged 45 and residing in Ryll Grove, Exmouth, has a long and troubling history of internet-based sexual offenses dating back to 2006. His criminal record includes multiple convictions related to the possession and distribution of child abuse images, as well as breaches of court orders designed to monitor and restrict his online activities. The recent breach involved his failure to inform authorities from the Public Protection Unit about three internet-enabled devices he had acquired, which was a violation of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) previously imposed on him.
Fowler’s history of deception and illegal online activity is extensive. In the past, he has used false identities to access online chat rooms, often posing as a young, fit man under the pseudonym Snowboarder Seth. His criminal record includes two prior jail sentences: one in 2011 for distributing child abuse images, and another in March of the previous year for breaching the SHPO and possessing images depicting severe child abuse on his mobile phone.
His latest breach of the court order led to his case being transferred from Exeter Magistrates Court to Exeter Crown Court for sentencing. However, Fowler’s failure to appear at the scheduled hearing resulted in Judge Johnson issuing a warrant for his arrest, explicitly stating that bail would not be granted. This is not the first time Fowler has absconded; he previously went on the run in 2007 when he was caught with child abuse images while already on a sex offenders’ course. During that period, he fled to France, where he worked as a furniture maker for four years until he was apprehended through a European Arrest Warrant in November 2011.
Further back in his criminal history, Fowler was involved in a disturbing incident in February 2017, when he was jailed for boasting online about going to the beach to look at young girls. He had been actively exchanging child abuse images with strangers in online forums, posing as a young snowboarder. Despite his online bravado, Fowler is known to still live with his parents and walks with crutches due to a back injury sustained while working as a roofer.
His criminal record reveals a pattern of offending that spans over a decade. He was first convicted in 2006 for accessing child abuse images while working as an IT technician at Exmouth Community College. His previous convictions include multiple charges related to the possession and distribution of indecent images of children, with some images depicting children as young as three suffering serious abuse. Fowler has served at least one jail sentence for these offenses.
In the most recent case, Fowler admitted to breaching a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) by accessing child abuse images and using an online alias, despite being explicitly banned from such activity. At Exeter Crown Court, Judge Erik Salomonsen sentenced him to eight months in prison, citing his blatant disregard for court orders and his apparent lack of remorse. The judge highlighted Fowler’s calculated risk-taking and his understanding of the restrictions placed upon him, which he chose to ignore.
Prosecutor Mr. Paul Grumbar detailed Fowler’s extensive history, including his 2006 and 2011 convictions, and the fact that police found him with 214 images of children, 25 of which were classified as the most severe category A. These images included stills from movies depicting serious abuse. Police also discovered chat logs from Skype and Kik on his devices, indicating ongoing exchanges of child abuse material. Fowler admitted to knowing he was not permitted to access such images but did so anyway, citing his back injury as a reason for his actions.
Authorities are now actively seeking Fowler following his failure to appear in court, and his history of fleeing justice underscores the seriousness of his case. His previous attempts to evade law enforcement, including fleeing to France, demonstrate a pattern of avoiding accountability for his heinous crimes. The case continues to be a stark reminder of the ongoing threat posed by individuals like Fowler, who have repeatedly violated court orders and engaged in the exploitation of children through online platforms.