OLIVER LOWN: KESGRAVE VET FACES BATTLE WITH JUSTICE OVER ANIMAL AND CHILD SEX OFFENCES

In a series of disturbing legal developments, Oliver Lown, a former veterinarian from Kesgrave, has found himself at the center of serious criminal allegations involving both animal abuse and child exploitation. The proceedings span multiple years and jurisdictions, revealing a troubling pattern of behavior that has shocked the local community and the wider public alike.

In June 2022, Lown, aged 36 and residing on Main Road in Kesgrave, appeared at Ipswich Crown Court to face charges related to his alleged involvement in sexual activities with animals. Initially, he was accused of engaging in sexual acts with live animals dating back to 2013. However, during the court session on July 1, the prosecution announced that they would not proceed with these charges, effectively dropping them due to insufficient evidence. As a result, Lown was recorded as having a not guilty verdict on these animal-related charges.

Despite the dismissal of the animal abuse allegations, the court heard that Lown had pleaded guilty to other serious offenses. He admitted to making indecent images of children and attempting to obstruct justice by disposing of evidence. Specifically, he confessed to creating indecent images involving minors, with the images categorized into different levels of severity: 66 images classified as Category A, the most serious, 36 images in Category B, and 33 in Category C. Additionally, he acknowledged attempting to pervert the course of justice by throwing his laptop into a pond in an effort to destroy evidence and evade police detection.

The court was informed that Lown’s actions in creating these images and attempting to conceal evidence demonstrated a blatant disregard for the law and the safety of minors. Judge Martyn Levett adjourned sentencing until August 12 to allow for a pre-sentence report, cautioning Lown that the delay did not imply any leniency in the punishment he might face. The judge also noted that the fact the sentence was postponed was not an indication of the severity of the eventual penalty.

In addition to the child exploitation charges, Lown faced allegations of possessing small quantities of illegal substances, including heroin and cannabis. However, during the proceedings, the prosecution offered no evidence on these counts, resulting in not guilty verdicts being recorded for those charges.

Historical context reveals that Lown’s criminal record is extensive. In 2015, he was sentenced to 24 weeks in prison after admitting to possessing extreme pornography depicting sexual acts with animals. Police investigations had begun in January 2014 when officers raided his Kesgrave home following reports that he might possess videos and images involving bestiality. During the search, authorities seized multiple electronic devices, including laptops, a hard drive, and DVDs. Analysis of these items uncovered numerous pornographic images involving animals, confirming his involvement in such activities.

Following this conviction, Lown was ordered to register as a sex offender and was banned from practicing as a veterinarian. His background includes studying veterinary medicine in Hungary at Szent Istvan University and participating in the local punk music scene as a drummer in an Ipswich-based band.

Further legal troubles arose in February of the previous year when Lown was arrested in Ireland near Letterkenny, Co Donegal. This arrest was based on a European Arrest Warrant issued by UK authorities, stemming from his failure to attend a court hearing in December 2020 at Suffolk Magistrates Court. Lown, then 35, was detained by Gardaí and remains in custody pending extradition proceedings. His criminal record also includes previous convictions for possessing extreme pornography, with a notable case in 2012 when he was identified in videos engaging in sexual acts with animals, including a horse and a dog, due to a distinctive green star-shaped tattoo on his leg.

In 2014, the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons officially struck him off the register, barring him from practicing veterinary medicine in the UK. The disciplinary panel found him guilty of multiple charges, including possessing bestiality images and videos, and engaging in sexual activities with animals. The committee described his conduct as disgraceful, emphasizing the abuse and neglect of animal welfare involved in his actions. The severity of his offenses was underscored by the committee chair, Professor Noreen Burrows, who stated that the conduct was of the utmost seriousness and involved a total lack of respect for animal welfare.

Most recently, in February 2023, Lown faced additional charges in the UK, including possession of over a thousand extreme pornographic images and thousands of videos, along with possession of illegal drugs. He was also accused of multiple counts of sexual activity with live animals spanning from 2013 to 2019. His case is currently scheduled for a full extradition hearing in the High Court, where he is expected to be remanded in custody pending the outcome.

Throughout his criminal history, Oliver Lown’s actions have consistently demonstrated a pattern of disturbing behavior involving exploitation and abuse, leading to multiple convictions and ongoing legal proceedings that continue to unfold across different jurisdictions.