Worcestershire musician felt ignored by police after she was cyberflashed

A musician said he was ignored by the local police force and once felt “distress” after pornographic images and videos were sent by a man he met at work.

Anna Downs, who waived the right to anonymity, felt that cyber burning should be taken more seriously and that the crime was forced to investigate him.

In September, West Mercia reported to the police, but I was arrested, convicted of Gunnery and issued a two -year community order.

The spokesman for the force said that they apologized to Mrs. Downes during the period to transfer the case to the metropolitan police.

Professional violinist and teacher from Worcestershire met Gunnery, a musician in 2024 when they played at the same concert.

“I [then] He started to receive a lot of deleted messages. Ten people were sent late at night, “he said.

“Then the next morning, ‘Oops, I’m sorry, torn apart’ he sent a message.”

Then he took open and inappropriate photos and videos that show him naked.

“I’m just stunned and horrified and violated,” he said.

“I spent a long time to sleep at night, and every time I closed my eyes, I would encounter these images.

45 -year -old Gunnery made music for films from Vauxhall from South West London, toured the world and taught children and adults during his crime.

Mrs. down immediately blocked her and told West Mercia to the police.

He sent images and links to his social media, website and business address and also informed the Union of Musicians.

“I thought that everything I read in the media would be taken seriously and will be handled.” He said.

Mrs. Downes’ statement was taken and the case was probably told that she would pass to the metropolitan police because she lived in London.

There was no progress for a few months.

From September to January, he contacted the Western Mercia police more than 20 times.

They told him that he would not accept the case because they couldn’t find the man’s home address.

As the Western Mercia police said they knew where they lived, she confused Mrs. Downes.

“It just made me more offended and less hopeful.

In January, he contacted the BBC.

Later, we contacted both forces and within two weeks, West Mercia police transferred the case to Met.

In a week, the Artillery was arrested, accused and went to court.

At a hearing in May, he was found guilty of sending images intentionally to cause alarm, distress and humiliation.

The 45 -year -old told the court that he had been fighting with a cocaine addiction for four years, that he could not remember to send him a message, and that he wanted to send the images to his wife.

The court heard that he was convicted of a similar crime when he sent an inappropriate and aggressive images to a woman he had previously met in 2023.

On Tuesday, a two -year community order, including 150 hours of unpaid work, was given Gunnery, and Judge Nermine Abdel Sayed said that if he reappeared, he would be sent to jail if he reappeared.

The judge said he should know the effect of his actions and that his victim felt “as he has to look at his shoulder constantly”.

Cyber floating, criminals, messaging practices and social media, such as an online platform to send unwanted open images to people, in January 2023 has become a crime in the UK.

A Yougov Survey Found Four out of 10 women between the ages of 18 and 34 took an unwanted sexual photograph from one who was not a romantic partner.

Downes said he chose to talk to encourage others.

“It would be much easier for me to be just a statistics,” he said.

“I didn’t do anything wrong. I was just doing my job. I’m Gunnery chose to send me pornographic images. I didn’t do anything to encourage this behavior.

“Most men are not like that, and this behavior needs to be called. This is not something I want my sons to think that normal.

“It’s easy to feel a shame and to keep it for yourself. But exactly, I was determined that I wouldn’t do it.”

Downes said he was inspired to continue to push his complaints with the experience of BBC reporter Lucy Manning.

Lucy received sexual open phone calls from a stranger, but the case was shot down by the police and only reopened After a victim’s right to examine.

After hearing that Lucy interviewed BBC Radio 2 at Jeremy Vine Show, Mrs. Downes said she was more determined to get justice.

Mrs. Downes said her experience looks contradictory Sarah Everard’s investigation into Killer Wayne CouzensA police officer who kidnapped, raped and killed him on his way out.

Government He accepted the suggestions of the investigation It should be a basic examination of how inappropriate exposure is treated.

However, Ms. Downes said that her case felt that she was not a priority for West Mercia police.

Orum I feel that they really deal with me. I reported this crime.

“As a victim, I want to know that my crime is handled with fast and consequences.

“I felt gas by the Western Mercia police. I felt ignored and made me feel uncomfortable.”

The spokesman for the force said that they understood their frustrations about the delay in their investigations, apologized and gave him a “complete explanation”.

An internal examination concluded that West Mercia’s service was “acceptable”, and the officers followed the policy while the crime was transferred to another power.

Met’s spokesman told us that they regretted any trouble caused by this delay “and admitted that there were delays in confirming the man’s address.

A Wandsworth Council spokesman said Gunnery was suspended from the teaching role and would not be employed again by the college.