Ex-Chipping Norton police worker convicted of making indecent images of children

An ex-police worker formerly from Chipping Norton who invited offenders to watch him abuse his fictional nephew was found guilty of making indecent images of children yesterday (Thursday, October 18).
David Gunn. Photo: National Crime Agency NNL-181019-093553001David Gunn. Photo: National Crime Agency NNL-181019-093553001
David Gunn. Photo: National Crime Agency NNL-181019-093553001

David Gunn was arrested by National Crime Agency (NCA) officers in June, 2016, on suspicion of possessing indecent images of children.

Investigators discovered the 55-year-old’s online persona ‘smokepig’ was present in an online chatroom on June 22, 2015, where pre-recorded child sexual abuse was being streamed.

Further forensic examinations of his electronic devices showed he accessed the same chat-room in August, 2015, and invited other users to watch him abuse his – fictional – eight-year-old nephew.

Gunn, now of Bull Street, Stratford Upon Avon, claimed he did this to trap other users and report them to the police.

But the former front enquiry office worker for Thames Valley Police did not take notes of this activity, or report anything to law enforcement.

A jury at Reading Crown Court unanimously convicted him of five counts of making indecent images of children – he will be sentenced on November 16.

NCA operations manager Graham Ellis said: “Gunn was logged into the online chatroom at the time the pre-recorded images were being streamed, showing his interest in viewing such material.

“He claimed he invented an eight-year-old to trap other online users in the same chatroom, but didn’t provide us with any evidence this was his plan, and didn’t subsequently report it to police.

“With the rise of digital technology, sharing images and moving footage has never been easier, whether that be on the dark web, or on more conventional social media websites.

“Offenders think they won’t be found. They are wrong. The NCA and our law enforcement partners are committed to tackling the threat posed by offenders like Gunn, and will bring them to justice.”