BEXHILL SEX OFFENDERS DENNIS BOWIE AND ALICE MCELHINNEY SENTENCED FOR GROOMING AND ABUSE

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Bexhill, two individuals associated with the local army cadets have been convicted and sentenced for serious sexual offences involving minors. The incident unfolded after a Remembrance Sunday event commemorating the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War, an occasion that was meant to honor fallen soldiers but was marred by the actions of these two offenders.

Lieutenant Dennis Bowie, aged 49, who was serving as a detachment commander of the Bexhill army cadets at the time, was found to have engaged in grooming a young girl within his troop. The court heard that Bowie, who is married, exploited his position of authority to manipulate and sexually abuse a 14-year-old girl. The victim, whose identity remains protected for legal reasons, described her experience as deeply traumatic, revealing that the abuse led her to self-harm and feelings of entrapment. In her statement, she expressed her anguish, saying, “I was used and felt trapped, I didn’t see any way of getting out of it.”

Alongside Bowie, Sergeant Alice McElhinney, aged 33, was also implicated in the grooming and abuse of cadets. The court revealed that McElhinney and Bowie collaborated closely, sharing their perverted fantasies and engaging in inappropriate communications. Evidence presented at Lewes Crown Court showed that the pair exchanged hundreds of text messages discussing their intentions and desires to sexually exploit the young cadets. Prosecutor Amy Packham detailed how the two volunteers, who had been involved with the Bexhill army cadets for several years, maintained a relationship of trust with the young trainees, which they exploited for their own gratification.

One particularly disturbing message from Bowie to McElhinney highlighted their failed attempt to abuse the girl after a Remembrance Day event. Bowie texted McElhinney, “Hey, I paid £75 and you got the snog. Lol,” indicating their involvement in inappropriate activities involving alcohol and minors. The court was told that the messages revealed a pattern of open and relaxed communication about their sexual interests in the cadets, including references to previous victims and plans for future abuse. The police seized McElhinney’s phone, which contained evidence of these conversations, and identified four young females as potential victims.

McElhinney attempted to dismiss the messages as mere “banter,” but the court found the evidence to be clear and damning. The judge, Her Honour Janet Waddicor, described the offences as a gross breach of trust, emphasizing the severity of the betrayal by individuals who were supposed to serve as role models and guardians for the young cadets. She stated, “It’s an abuse of trust by her family and the trust placed in them by the cadets. It was almost as if they were playthings.”

In court proceedings, Bowie pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including sexual communication with a child, two counts of sexual activity with a child, and three counts of making indecent images of children. He was sentenced to a term of five years and two months in prison. McElhinney admitted to one count of sexual communication with a child and two counts of sexual activity with a child, receiving a sentence of three years and nine months.

Both offenders are now serving their sentences and will be registered sex offenders for life. Additionally, Sexual Harm Prevention Orders have been issued against both, restricting their access to children and further safeguarding the community. The case has left a lasting impact on the victims and the community of Bexhill, highlighting the importance of vigilance and safeguarding measures within organizations involving young people.