Ex-SNP activist who wanted to 'beat the f*** out of terfs' jailed for sickening sex attacks
dailyrecord.co.ukA former SNP activist who once tweeted how he wanted “beat the f**k” out of feminists has been jailed for six years for a series of sexual assaults.Cameron Downing, 24, preyed on six victims at locations across Scotland during a course of conduct which began when he was just 16-years-old.The High Court in Edinburgh heard how the abuse continued until February 2023.
Police learned about his activities and launched a probe.But the court heard that during the probe, officers discovered how Downing ‘repeatedly blackmailed’ one of the men he preyed on.He told his victim that if he didn’t engage in sexual activity with him, he’d make an allegation to the police about how he had been raped by the man.The witness told the court that Downing said he’d also contact his friends, family and employer and make the false rape allegation to them.
The man, who is now aged 22, gave evidence and said he felt “trapped” by Downing’s threat.Downing, a former Drama student and an equalities convenor for the SNP’s London branch, spent his trial denying any wrongdoing.Downing, who told the jury in their evidence that they identified as being non binary, said he hadn’t been threatening the male and was battling ‘complex’ mental health issues at the time of the abuse.Last month, Jurors spent two days deliberating their verdicts before returning guilty verdicts on charges of physical and sexual assaults on Downing, whose pronouns are he/they.On Tuesday, Downing, of Willowbrae, Edinburgh, returned to the dock of the high court in the Scottish capital for sentencing.Judge Alison Stirling also ordered Downing to be supervised by the authorities for three years following his release from custody.
Read more on dailyrecord.co.uk