DAVID BOWLES' SHAMEFUL CRIMES IN DAGENHAM AND PORTSMOUTH LEAVE CAR TO ROT FOR MONTHS

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local communities of Dagenham and Portsmouth, a convicted sex offender named David Bowles has left his vehicle abandoned and neglected outside a courthouse, where it has remained untouched for over six months. The car, a green Ford Fiesta, was regularly used by Bowles to attend court proceedings at Snaresbrook Crown Court during his trial. Despite the conclusion of his case and his subsequent imprisonment, the vehicle has not been moved, raising questions about its ownership and the handling of Bowles' property.

Currently, the car is parked in a disabled parking space, displaying an outdated tax disc and a blue disabled badge, which suggests that Bowles intended to return to it within a two-hour window. However, since Bowles was sentenced to 15 years in prison last year, no one has taken responsibility for removing or relocating the vehicle. Typically, the defendant’s family would handle such matters, but in this case, Bowles’ relatives have distanced themselves from him, expressing their disgust and refusal to be associated with his crimes.

Bowles, aged 60 and hailing from Portsmouth, was convicted of a series of heinous sex offenses committed over several decades, involving children in Dagenham, Beckton, and across Hampshire. His crimes spanned from the 1960s through the 1990s, with victims ranging from young boys to girls. During his trial, Bowles was seen being wheeled out of court in a wheelchair by security personnel, after which he was transported away. Despite his physical disability, photographs captured him stepping out of his wheelchair and entering a hatchback vehicle each day as he left court.

The vehicle itself has suffered the effects of neglect, with scratches and a cracked fog lamp evident on its exterior. During the cold winter months in January, the car was covered in snow, further emphasizing its abandonment. The car’s current state reflects the lack of action taken to remove it, although court staff have indicated that steps are now underway to have the vehicle taken away. A spokesperson confirmed, “It is a matter we are dealing with. Action has been taken and is being taken to have it removed.”

Bowles’ criminal history is extensive. He was convicted of multiple sex offenses, including rape, six counts of buggery, eleven counts of indecent assault, and two counts of indecency with a child. His crimes involved young victims in East London, Hampshire, and other parts of the southeast. Bowles admitted to abusing a victim in 1965 after being released from a juvenile detention home, and he claimed to have engaged in similar acts at an institution in Surrey, asserting that he “didn’t know it was wrong.” However, he denied the charges brought against him.

Following his conviction, Bowles was sentenced to 15 years in prison on October 9 of the previous year. During the sentencing, it was revealed that he had used his physical stature—standing at 6 feet 6 inches—to intimidate and manipulate his victims. A court staff member confirmed that efforts are now being made to remove his abandoned vehicle, which has become a symbol of his long and disturbing criminal history.