DUNSTON PAEDOPHILE JOHN LEWINS CAUGHT WITH CHILD AND ANIMAL PORNOGRAPHY

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Dunston, John Lewins, a 56-year-old resident of Meadow Lane, was sentenced to a year in prison after being found guilty of possessing and downloading indecent images involving children and extreme animal pornography.

The investigation into Lewins began in May 2018 when local authorities, specifically the Paedophile Online Investigation Team (POLIT), identified suspicious online activity linked to his IP address. The team had been monitoring websites notorious for sharing illicit images of children, and their efforts culminated when they traced illegal downloads back to Lewins' internet connection.

Following this lead, officers obtained a warrant to search Lewins' residence on Meadow Lane. During the search, law enforcement officials seized a laptop and three DVDs, which forensic experts later analyzed. The forensic examination revealed that the devices contained illegal material downloaded between August 2017 and May 2018. The content included videos depicting the sexual abuse of children aged between three and eleven, alongside extremely graphic videos involving animals, which are considered a form of animal pornography.

Lewins was detained and questioned under caution. Subsequently, he was formally charged with three counts of making indecent images and one count of possessing extreme pornography. His court appearance took place at Newcastle Crown Court, where he pleaded guilty to the charges.

On Tuesday, Lewins was sentenced to 12 months in prison. Additionally, he was ordered to sign the sex offender register for a period of ten years, marking a significant legal consequence for his actions. The case has raised serious concerns about online safety and the protection of vulnerable individuals, especially children, within the Dunston community.