Former HoK election candidate accused of possessing indecent images of children

55-year-old also charged with sending 'obscene articles' by post

A former House of Keys candidate has appeared in court accused of possessing indecent images of children.

David Anthony Fowler, of Howstrake Drive in Onchan, made his first appearance at Douglas Courthouse – from police custody - today (15 August).

The 55-year-old, who stood unsuccessfully in two general election campaigns in 2016 and 2021 and a by-election in 2020, has been charged with six offences.

They include two of possessing electronic photographs of children, and three of having hard copies of images of youngsters, on 19 May this year.

He’s also been charged with sending obscene articles by post.

This offence relates to a sex doll which he allegedly produced to the Isle of Man, via the Manx postal system, on or about 2 November 2021.

The court was told Mr Fowler is accused of having around 45 indecent images of young girls aged between three and 10 years of age.

They allegedly span between Level 1 and 2 on the COPINE scale – the system which categorises the severity of images of child sex abuse.

An application for bail was granted and Mr Fowler has been released with a number of conditions.

These include that the gardener must not attend, enter, loiter near, or be in the vicinity of, any educational establishment, school, nursery, youth or sporting club where children may be.

He is also forbidden from associating with any child under the age of 16 and his use of electronic devices and the internet is restricted.

Mr Fowler will next appear in court on 29 August.