Paedophile's jail term cut

7:30am Saturday 10th May 2008

A PREDATORY paedophile who stalked school girls had his minimum jail term cut yesterday.

Jeremy Mark Bowen, who once expressed the opinion that underage sex was acceptable in a "caring" relationship, was jailed at Harrow Crown Court in August last year.

Bowen, of Hayes, was handed an indefinite prison sentence for public protection after admitting charges of gross indecency, indecent exposure, possessing and distributing indecent images and engaging in sexual activity in front of children.

His crimes took place on the streets of Harrow, Hillingdon and Ealing.

The judge said Bowen's "pattern of behaviour" comprised "regularly" exposing his genitals and pleasuring himself in front of young girls - then photographing their reactions.

Two years ago it escalated to the point where he incited two girls to actually touch his private parts, a court heard.

He will not be freed until he can convince the Parole Board it is safe to do so. He was told he must serve a minimum of three years and nine months behind bars before he could seek parole.

At the Court of Appeal on Friday, Mr Justice Forbes dismissed Bowen's appeal against his sentence but cut his minimum jail term to two-and-a-half years.

He will remain on the Sex Offenders Register for life, will never be allowed to work with children and cannot go within 15 metres of a school, or 200 metres of children in a park.