DAVID COWEN FROM VALE CAUGHT WITH CHILD ABUSE IMAGES IN DUMBARON

In January 2014, a man from Vale named David Cowen found himself at the center of a serious criminal case involving the possession of indecent images and videos of children. The incident came to light after police conducted a search of Cowen’s residence in Alexandria, which he shares with his wife and daughter, on April 11 of the previous year.

Authorities had obtained a warrant to search Cowen’s home, but upon arrival, they discovered that he was not present at the property. The police then contacted a neighbor, who informed them that Cowen and his family were away on holiday. The neighbor provided a key, which allowed the officers to access the house legally. Once inside, the officers seized a computer for examination.

During the analysis of the computer, investigators uncovered several files that contained highly inappropriate material. Specifically, they found nine indecent images of children and seven indecent movies. These files ranged in severity from level one to level four, with level five being classified as the most severe. The images and videos were deemed to be of a disturbing nature, raising serious concerns about the content stored on Cowen’s device.

Following the discovery, Cowen was detained by police the next day. During police interviews, he chose to remain silent, offering no comments regarding the allegations. However, in December, Cowen pleaded guilty to a charge related to the creation or permitting the creation of indecent photographs or pseudophotographs of children. The offense was committed between November 20, 2012, and April 10, 2013.

Throughout the court proceedings, Cowen’s defense lawyer, Judith Reid, highlighted that her client had indicated an intention to plead guilty early in the process. She emphasized that Cowen was a first-time offender and had already experienced the consequences of his actions, including spending a weekend in custody following his arrest. Reid argued that Cowen had learned a significant lesson and that a custodial sentence could have a devastating impact on his family, particularly his wife, who is the primary breadwinner and often works away from home.

In sentencing, Sheriff Simon Pender decided against imprisonment. Instead, Cowen was placed under a community payback order, which requires him to be supervised for three years and complete 225 hours of unpaid community service. Additionally, Cowen was subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order for five years. This order, following a motion by the Crown, prohibits him from having any unsupervised contact with children under 16, except for his daughter and her friends, provided she is present. Furthermore, Cowen was registered as a sex offender for a period of three years, reflecting the seriousness of his offenses and the need for ongoing monitoring.