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Former SNP equalities officer jailed for sexually harassing young adults

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The former acting student also sent threatening messages to his partner, demanding that he share his social media passwords and threatening to falsely accuse him of rape if he did not maintain the sexual relationship with him.

Last month, a jury at the High Court in Edinburgh found Downing guilty on a total of ten charges, including sexual and physical assault and domestic violence.

In sentencing on Tuesday at the same court, Judge Alison Stirling said Downing was “capable of inflicting physical and sexual harm as well as psychological distress”.

She said: “You have a distorted view of domestic violence and show no remorse or insight into the impact of your actions on the victim.”

The judge added: “Your offences are likely to have caused significant psychological and physical harm to all of your victims and their psychological recovery from your actions may take longer.”

She said Downing demonstrated “hostility towards women, a lack of consideration for others, a sexual preference and deviant sexual preferences” and that he was at high risk of re-offending.

Downing, wearing a black suit, showed no reaction as the verdict was read and blew kisses to the spectators as he was led from the dock.

Following the verdict, Katrina Parkes, Scotland’s sex offender prosecutor, said: “Cameron Downing is a dangerous individual whose predatory and manipulative behaviour has caused unimaginable trauma.

“It is thanks to the courage and bravery of his victims that this prosecution was possible.

“I would like to urge any victim of a similar crime not to suffer in silence, but to report it and seek help.

“We will listen to you and use all the means at our disposal to obtain justice.”

Downing was sentenced to six years in prison, suspended for a further three years, and an indefinite restraining order was imposed on him against one of the complainants.

He will also be placed on the sex offenders register for an indefinite period.

Downing was elected equalities officer for the SNP’s London branch in October 2022.

He later resigned.

A photo has also emerged showing Downing with former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon at an SNP conference in Aberdeen.

In 2022, it emerged that Downing had tweeted that he wanted to “beat up some terfs and transphobes.” He also tweeted, “I fucking hate terfs and transphobes so much.”

The tweets prompted Harry Potter author JK Rowling to tweet: “Nicola Sturgeon’s Scotland: A place where an equalities commissioner feels free to publicly declare how much he wants to beat up unruly women.”

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