In 2016, the Offender Database reported that Simon Veale, then of Edmunds Road, Banbury, Oxfordshire, was sentenced to 11 years for a “vile” collection of child abuse material and for plotting a sexual offence. On Friday, 18 March 2016, Veale appeared at Oxford Crown Court, where a judge branded him a “danger to children” before handing down a lengthy custodial term.
The investigation established that in 2014, Veale attempted to initiate sexual activity with a girl under the age of 13. A forensic review of his devices reported that between 2012 and 2014, he made 2,349 indecent photos of children on a mobile phone, in addition to 677 images found on a computer dating back a decade. The prosecution reported that Veale “viciously” fuelled further abuse by emailing 42 images and videos to 23 other individuals over a three-year period.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Veale’s actions involved the systematic distribution of “despicable” material. During the sentencing, the judge emphasised that the defendant’s conduct posed a “serious” and ongoing risk to the public. Detective Sergeant Julia McDowall, from Thames Valley Police, emphasised that offences involving indecent images are not victimless, as the sharing of such “vile” media directly fuels the further abuse of children worldwide.
The judge emphasised that the severity of the sentence reflected the “reprehensible” nature of Veale’s attempt to target a young child in person. The prosecution emphasised that the digital investigation by the Paedophile Online Investigation Team (POLIT) was crucial in uncovering the vast scale of his “vicious” decade-long offending. For his crimes in Banbury, the court determined that Veale required a significant period of incarceration followed by a lengthy extended licence to ensure public protection.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his crimes in England, Simon Veale was handed:
- Custodial Sentence: Five years in immediate custody.
- Extended Licence: Six years of extended supervision (making an 11-year total sentence).
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements are in effect for life.
- Convictions: Sentenced for making over 3,000 indecent images, distributing images, and attempting to initiate sexual activity with a child under 13.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Veale is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Thames Valley Police and the prison estate. Due to the “vicious” nature of his attempt to target a minor and his history of distribution, his management remains under the highest level of scrutiny by the Public Protection Unit.
As a lifetime member of the Sex Offenders Register, Veale must comply with mandatory notification requirements regarding his residence in Edmunds Road, Banbury. Authorities state that his “vile” history of sharing abuse videos necessitates strict digital monitoring. Any breach of his registration conditions, his extended licence terms, or any further “vicious” conduct will result in his immediate arrest and return to Oxford Crown Court.
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