October 23, 2013 6.15 pm This story is over 131 months old

Lincoln man convicted of 23 child abuse offences

Convicted: A 50-year-old self confessed local paedophile has been found guilty of 23 offences relating to child abuse.

A 50-year-old local man has been convicted of 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 at Lincoln Crown Court on October 23.

The court heard Bowen openly admitted downloading and sharing the images on the internet, believing that his actions should not be considered a crime.

The court also found out 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 has also written 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 conviction demonstrates the work of the ICAT team and sends out a clear message that offenders will be pursued and brought to justice.”

Bowen will be sentenced at Lincoln Crown Court on December 13.