DURSLEY PAEDOPHILE PHILIP DOWLING SENTENCED FOR HORRIFIC ABUSE NEAR GLOUCESTER
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Dursley Rapist
In a case that has shocked the community of Dursley and the surrounding Gloucestershire area, Philip Dowling, aged 47, has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term after a series of heinous crimes involving the sexual abuse of a young girl. The disturbing details of his offenses, which spanned several years, came to light after he was lured into a trap set by a dedicated paedophile hunting group operating online.
Dowling, a resident of St George's Road in Dursley, was found to have raped a girl more than 150 times between the ages of 11 and 16. His crimes were uncovered when he engaged in online conversations with what he believed was a 14-year-old girl named Laura, arranged by the group known as Totnes Justice, who posed as a minor on Facebook to catch predators. The group’s operation led to Dowling's arrest at Gloucester Railway Station on January 28, after he traveled there to meet the girl.
During the police investigation, officers discovered two indecent images of a young girl on Dowling’s mobile phone. Prosecutor Brendan Moorhouse explained that the abuse began when the victim was just 11 years old and persisted until she reached 16. The court heard that Dowling had made numerous sexually explicit remarks to the girl, including comments like, “As long as you don’t think I’m a paedophile,” which highlighted his attempt to justify or downplay his actions.
In addition to the physical abuse, Dowling was found to have engaged in online grooming of another young girl, and evidence from text messages revealed that he had been sleeping with his victim. Moorhouse stated that Dowling admitted to having sex with her and referenced taking showers together to wash each other's backs, further illustrating the extent of his predatory behavior.
The court was also presented with a victim impact statement, in which the girl described suffering from anxiety as a direct result of the abuse. Her mother had contacted the NSPCC after noticing a love bite on her neck, and her boyfriend was also aware of the ongoing abuse, indicating the level of concern and the breach of trust involved.
Judge Michael McCullum condemned Dowling’s actions, describing the case as a “campaign of abuse of trust and wickedness.” He emphasized the severity of the crimes, noting that the abuse occurred over a period of several years and only ceased when the victim found a boyfriend. The judge labeled Dowling as a “cruel and self-centred paedophile” and expressed concern about the risk of further offending, which led to the decision to impose an extended sentence.
As a result, Dowling was sentenced to 15 years and six months in prison. Additionally, he was ordered to serve a further four and a half years on parole license. The court also issued an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and mandated that Dowling register as a sex offender for life, underscoring the seriousness of his crimes and the ongoing risk he poses to the community.
Earlier in May 2018, Dowling had admitted to ten counts of raping a girl between 2011 and 2016, as well as making an indecent image of a child on April 9, 2016, and attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming on January 28 of that year. These charges were related to the same victim, and the court had initially adjourned the case for a pre-sentence report to assess his dangerousness, with a sentencing hearing scheduled for June 29. Dowling was remanded in custody until the sentencing, which has now resulted in the significant prison sentence and lifetime registration.
Dowling, a resident of St George's Road in Dursley, was found to have raped a girl more than 150 times between the ages of 11 and 16. His crimes were uncovered when he engaged in online conversations with what he believed was a 14-year-old girl named Laura, arranged by the group known as Totnes Justice, who posed as a minor on Facebook to catch predators. The group’s operation led to Dowling's arrest at Gloucester Railway Station on January 28, after he traveled there to meet the girl.
During the police investigation, officers discovered two indecent images of a young girl on Dowling’s mobile phone. Prosecutor Brendan Moorhouse explained that the abuse began when the victim was just 11 years old and persisted until she reached 16. The court heard that Dowling had made numerous sexually explicit remarks to the girl, including comments like, “As long as you don’t think I’m a paedophile,” which highlighted his attempt to justify or downplay his actions.
In addition to the physical abuse, Dowling was found to have engaged in online grooming of another young girl, and evidence from text messages revealed that he had been sleeping with his victim. Moorhouse stated that Dowling admitted to having sex with her and referenced taking showers together to wash each other's backs, further illustrating the extent of his predatory behavior.
The court was also presented with a victim impact statement, in which the girl described suffering from anxiety as a direct result of the abuse. Her mother had contacted the NSPCC after noticing a love bite on her neck, and her boyfriend was also aware of the ongoing abuse, indicating the level of concern and the breach of trust involved.
Judge Michael McCullum condemned Dowling’s actions, describing the case as a “campaign of abuse of trust and wickedness.” He emphasized the severity of the crimes, noting that the abuse occurred over a period of several years and only ceased when the victim found a boyfriend. The judge labeled Dowling as a “cruel and self-centred paedophile” and expressed concern about the risk of further offending, which led to the decision to impose an extended sentence.
As a result, Dowling was sentenced to 15 years and six months in prison. Additionally, he was ordered to serve a further four and a half years on parole license. The court also issued an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and mandated that Dowling register as a sex offender for life, underscoring the seriousness of his crimes and the ongoing risk he poses to the community.
Earlier in May 2018, Dowling had admitted to ten counts of raping a girl between 2011 and 2016, as well as making an indecent image of a child on April 9, 2016, and attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming on January 28 of that year. These charges were related to the same victim, and the court had initially adjourned the case for a pre-sentence report to assess his dangerousness, with a sentencing hearing scheduled for June 29. Dowling was remanded in custody until the sentencing, which has now resulted in the significant prison sentence and lifetime registration.