ASHLEY POWELL FROM CINDERFORD AND TUTSHILL ESCAPES JAIL AFTER DOWNLOAD OF CHILD INDECENT IMAGES IN FOREST OF DEAN

In a case that has shocked the local communities of Cinderford and Tutshill, Ashley Powell, a 29-year-old man residing on Wyebank Road in Tutshill, was brought before Gloucester Crown Court in July 2021 to face serious allegations involving the possession of indecent images of children. The court heard that Powell had downloaded a total of 198 such images, some of which depicted infants, raising grave concerns about his actions and the potential risk posed to vulnerable children.

Following a forensic examination of Powell’s electronic devices, law enforcement officials discovered the disturbing material stored on his digital equipment. Specifically, 153 images were located on his hard drive, while an additional 44 images were found on his mobile phone. The images predominantly featured young girls aged between four and twelve years old. Among the most disturbing were photographs of a child being gagged and blindfolded, as well as images of female infants only a few months old. These findings underscored the severity of the offense and the potential harm caused by such material.

It was also revealed during the court proceedings that Powell had a prior criminal record. In 2015, he received a caution for attempting to engage in sexual activity with a 14-year-old girl via Facebook, indicating a troubling pattern of behavior and a history of inappropriate conduct involving minors.

Despite the gravity of the charges, Judge Cullum opted to impose a community-based sentence rather than incarceration. Powell was sentenced to a three-year community order, which includes the requirement to attend 40 structured programme sessions and 30 days of rehabilitation activities aimed at addressing his behavior. Additionally, the court placed Powell under a five-year sexual harm prevention order, restricting his activities and requiring him to sign the sex offenders’ register for the same period. The judge also ordered the relevant electronic devices to be forfeited and destroyed, ensuring they could no longer be used to access or distribute such material.

Furthermore, Powell was ordered to pay court costs amounting to £375, along with a victim surcharge, as part of the court’s measures to address the offense. The case highlights ongoing concerns about online safety and the importance of monitoring digital activity to prevent the proliferation of harmful images involving children.