August 2020

Ramsgate sex offender jailed for indecent images of children after running away to Scotland

A repeat sex offender who accessed indecent images of children via the dark web then fled Scotland after he was caught has been jailed.

After having already been convicted of making indecent images of children, Gregory Powney was the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

This meant he had regular visits from police and could only own a computer or phone if the browsing history was available for officers to examine.

But when police visited his home in High Street, Ramsgate, on July 2, 2018, they found he was using the dark web on a secret laptop to continue his offending.

The 67-year-old handed over a phone and a tablet to be checked by police.

It was only after he was warned by officers that he admitted he had another laptop, which he kept hidden behind a drawer.

When the laptop was examined, it was found to have software installed which would wipe the browsing history, as well as various applications used to access the dark web.

April 2013

Ramgsate sex offender had 23,000 indecent images of children

A 59-year-old Ramsgate man has been jailed for possessing indecent images of children and breaching a sexual offences prevention order.

Repeat offender Gregory Powney of Royal Road, was arrested 19 December 19 2012, after computer equipment was examined and found to contain more than 400 indecent movie clips, and over 23,000 indecent images of children on a hard drive.

He pleaded guilty at Canterbury Crown Court on March 18, and yesterday was sentenced to a total of three years in prison.

He received a two-year sentence for possession of indecent images and an additional year imprisonment for breaching his sexual offences prevention order.

Judge Simon James said: “The abuse depicted was graphic and almost unimaginable to right minded people. The truth is that you bear a direct responsibility for the abuse of these children.”

Det Sgt David Shipley said: “This is the third time that Powney has been arrested by the child exploitation investigation team. Despite taking steps to hide his behaviour, it is clear that Powney is a danger to children, and has no intention or ability to moderate his behaviour.

“Kent Police will continue to work with other police forces and agencies, nationally and internationally, to track down offenders, as often as it takes to get the message home – children are not sexual objects and must be protected.”

March 2007

Bus driver had tens of thousands of porn images

A BUS driver was caught with a huge haul of child porn when police officers raided his home, a court heard.

After being arrested and bailed Gregory Powney moved from Gravesend to another part of Kent and continued to download the material.

The 53-year-old had amassed so many images that police were unable to put a total number on them, but they ran into tens of thousands.

Some were at the highest levels of four and five and featured victims as young as two, Maidstone Crown Court.

Powney was jailed for two years after he admitted 14 charges of making indecent images of a child between June and October last year and asked for 35 similar offences to be considered.

Judge Philip Statman said Powney was fortunate that the offences taken into consideration did not form a separate indictment, as he could have received a consecutive sentence.

Caroline Knight, prosecuting, said the home Powney previously occupied in The Avenue, Gravesend, was searched towards the end of last year.

He was released on police bail and it was later discovered that he had moved. Officers traced him to an address in Avenue Road, Ramsgate.

“Having been arrested he has continued to do the same thing,” said his lawyer Ian Paton. “He bought a laptop and resumed.”

Miss Knight asked that Powney be banned from working with children, as his job would involve him coming into contact with youngsters.

Powney was placed on the sex offenders’ register for 10 years.