SHANE ADAMS CHILD ABUSE IMAGES SCANDAL IN CHITTERNE AND TROWBRIDGE

In August 2013, Shane Adams, who had recently established his residence in Chitterne, Wiltshire, became the focus of a serious criminal investigation related to the possession and distribution of indecent images of children. The case traces back to a previous incident in June 2006, when Adams was living in Trowbridge, and reveals a disturbing pattern of behavior that has shocked the local communities.

Adams, a man known for his involvement in spiritualist activities and his charitable efforts, was found to have downloaded over 100 child abuse images. Despite his public persona as a fundraiser for children’s charities, the reality of his actions starkly contrasted with his charitable image. The images he possessed included some rated at the most severe level five, which are classified as clearly sadistic in nature, according to the court. This revelation was made during a hearing where Adams faced charges related to the making and possession of indecent photographs of children.

The court proceedings detailed that Adams, then aged 30 and residing on Ramsbury Walk in Trowbridge, had been caught after police executed a search warrant at his home in Abdon Close, Chitterne, on April 6, 2005. During the search, Adams admitted to downloading the images, claiming that his intent was to send them to then-Prime Minister Tony Blair as a means of highlighting issues surrounding internet misuse. This bizarre justification was part of the evidence presented during the case.

Among the 102 images recovered from his residence, three were rated at the highest level five, with two depicting scenes of sadism. The remaining images ranged from levels one to four, indicating varying degrees of severity. The court also heard that Adams suffers from learning difficulties and dyslexia, conditions that have been compounded by a history of health issues, including encephalitis at the age of 16, which significantly altered his personality.

Adams’s defense team, led by Andrew Eddy, highlighted his struggles with mental health, noting that he had a history of self-harm and had been prescribed medication for depression multiple times over the years. Despite the gravity of the charges, Adams’s background and mental health issues played a role in the sentencing decision.

In a separate hearing at Chippenham magistrates’ court, Adams was sentenced to a three-year community rehabilitation order and was required to register as a sex offender for five years. The court acknowledged his cognitive disabilities and the impact they have on his understanding of the severity of his actions. District Judge Simon Cooper emphasized that sending Adams to prison would likely be detrimental to his well-being and that the primary goal was to protect the public while considering his mental health challenges.

Adams, who was also an ordained minister registered with the California-based Universal Church of Life via the internet in 2002, had previously gained notoriety in Trowbridge. Two years prior, a local vicar publicly labeled him as ‘evil’ for hosting spiritualist events, including vampire weddings and exorcisms, at the Trowbridge Spiritualist Church he established in March 2004. His activities in the spiritualist community, combined with his criminal conduct, have left a lasting impact on the local residents and authorities alike.