February 21, 2014 3.17 pm This story is over 120 months old

Lincoln paedophile gets 6 years jail sentence

Sentenced: A self-confessed paedophile from Lincoln has been given 6 years in prison for possession and distribution of child abuse images.

A self-confessed paedophile from Lincoln has been sentenced to 6 years in prison with a 4 year extension of licence for possession and distribution of child abuse images.

Andrew Bowen (50) of Bawtry Close in Lincoln, was found guilty of 23 offences relating to child abuse images after a trial at Lincoln Crown Court in October.

As previously reported, Bowen openly admitted downloading and sharing the images on the internet, believing that his actions should not be considered a crime.

The court also heard, on February 21, that he was initially arrested after a search warrant was executed at his home in February last year, then rearrested in July 2012 when answering bail.

He answered bail by attending the police station with a laptop, which contained more child abuse images.

Finally, he was arrested in March 2013 after a computer was seized off him on Lincoln High Street, again containing indecent images of children.

Bowen also wrote to a number of prominent figures and organisations in the county about “freedom of choice for children to have sexual relationships”.

DC Nicole Linn of Lincolnshire Police’s Internet Child Abuse Team (ICAT) said: “Bowen is clearly a very dangerous man who has no concept of the deep and lasting impact his crimes have on the children involved in the material he has obtained and distributed.

“We hope this sentence demonstrates the work of the ICAT team and the Hi Tech Crime Unit and sends out a clear message that offenders will be pursued and brought to justice.”