MOLD CHEMISTRY DOCTOR MICHAEL LOWENS ADMITTED TO VIEWING CHILD INDECENT IMAGES IN MOLD

In September 2011, a disturbing case emerged involving a local doctor from Mold who was found to have downloaded and viewed indecent images of children. The incident came to light during a police investigation that initially focused on firearms offences, but subsequent searches of the defendant's residence uncovered a troubling collection of illicit material.

Michael James Lowens, a chemistry doctor residing alone in a flat on Mold High Street, was found to have stored 30 indecent images involving children under the age of 12 on his personal computer. These images were discovered after police executed a search warrant at his property, which was part of a broader investigation that was scheduled to be heard in the Crown Court concerning firearms offences.

During the court proceedings at Mold Magistrates Court, Lowens admitted to a single charge: that between January 1 and March 1 of the same year, he had made and stored 30 indecent images of children. The images were classified as the least serious level of such material, indicating that they did not involve sexual acts but still constituted a criminal offence. In addition to these images, the police found four computer-generated pictures depicting child abuse of a non-sexual nature, which added to the severity of the case.

Prosecutor Justin Espie explained that the images had been downloaded using a “bit torrent” software, a peer-to-peer file-sharing platform. This method meant that when Lowens was connected to the network, the files could have been automatically available for others to download, which was considered an aggravating factor in the case. The use of such technology increased the potential for distribution and sharing of illicit material, raising concerns about the wider circulation of these images.

Defence solicitor Bethan Jones argued that the images in question were of the least serious kind, showing children fully clothed in poses that did not involve sexual acts. She emphasized that there was nothing more sinister involved, asserting that Lowens had not distributed any of the images himself. Instead, she explained that the files had been downloaded via the peer-to-peer software, which inherently made them accessible to others when the computer was online.

In police interviews, Lowens reportedly claimed that his interest in such material was driven by curiosity. He admitted to having viewed and saved some of the images onto his computer, but maintained that his actions were not malicious or intended for distribution.

The magistrates, after considering the evidence, imposed a 12-month community order on Lowens. Additionally, he was ordered to participate in a sex offender group work programme, aimed at addressing his behaviour and preventing future offences. The case highlights the ongoing concerns surrounding the possession and viewing of indecent images of children, even when classified as the least serious level, and underscores the importance of law enforcement efforts in tackling such offences.