OVAIS BADAT FROM TETBURY JAILED FOR CHILD ABUSE IMAGES AFTER PREVIOUS DRUG CONVICTIONS

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Tetbury and the surrounding areas, Dr. Ovais Badat, a psychiatrist based in Hengrove, has been convicted and sentenced for possessing and downloading indecent images and videos of children. The court proceedings revealed a troubling pattern of criminal behavior that spanned several years, involving the exploitation of vulnerable minors through digital material.

Badat, aged 42 and residing on Hopewell Street in Tetbury, was found guilty of multiple charges related to child abuse images. The allegations stemmed from an investigation that uncovered his access to a collection of highly illegal and disturbing content, including videos and photographs depicting children being sexually abused. These images were classified into categories based on severity, with some identified as Category A, the most serious level of abuse.

The court heard that the police executed a search warrant at Badat’s residence, during which they seized an iMac computer and a hard drive. Forensic analysis of these devices revealed a cache of indecent images and videos of children, which had been stored on the devices. It was also established that the computer contained backups of his partner’s iPad and both of their iPhones. Interestingly, Badat’s partner claimed she had never accessed any such material, and police found that the devices had been purchased second-hand from eBay, with factory resets that erased previous content. Additionally, Badat had bought a new hard drive, which was also examined.

During police interviews, Badat denied any involvement or wrongdoing. He claimed that he purchased the computers second-hand and kept them in a spare room accessible to others, asserting that his devices were not password protected. However, the prosecution argued that the evidence, including search terms used on the devices, pointed directly to Badat as the individual responsible for downloading the illegal content.

Prosecutor Kerry Barker emphasized the gravity of the case, stating, “It was the case of the prosecution that it was Badat who downloaded the material, which included videos and images of children being sexually abused. The images were assessed to be Category A, the most severe form of abuse.”

Adding context to Badat’s criminal history, it was revealed that he was already serving a two-and-a-half-year sentence for previous offenses, including supplying cocaine, making false prescriptions, and possessing the Class B drug ketamine. In October of the previous year, he was convicted of these crimes, which involved fraudulent prescriptions and drug possession, linked to his employment with the Wiltshire Partnership Mental Health Service NHS Trust.

Following the latest conviction, the court sentenced Badat to an additional ten months for the child abuse image charges. The sentence is to run consecutively to his existing term, meaning he will serve a total of approximately three years in prison. DCI Simon Brickwood of Avon and Somerset Police commented on the case, stating, “A 42-year-old man has been convicted of downloading indecent images and videos of children following a trial at Bristol Crown Court. Ovais Badat, of Hopewell Street in Gloucester, was found guilty of seven counts of making indecent images of children. He was previously convicted of supplying a controlled drug, fraudulently making false prescriptions, fraud, and possessing ketamine. Downloading such images is an abhorrent crime, and every image represents a child who has been abused. We are committed to bringing offenders like Badat to justice.”

In summary, this case highlights the disturbing reality of digital child exploitation and the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat such heinous crimes. Badat’s criminal record, which includes drug-related offenses and now child abuse image charges, underscores the importance of vigilance and rigorous investigation in protecting vulnerable children from exploitation and abuse.