Former SNP Equalities Officer sentenced to prison for sexual and violent crimes
Cameron Downing, who expressed a desire to harm ‘terfs’ online, has been sentenced to six years for committing 10 offenses against young adults. These offenses date back to his teenage years.
A former SNP equalities officer has been sentenced to six years in prison for causing “unimaginable trauma” to his victims through a series of sexual and physical assaults.
Over a five-year period from 2016 to 2021, Cameron Downing, aged 24, attacked seven young men and women at various locations in Scotland. His criminal behavior began when he was just 16 years old.
Claiming to be “non-binary,” Downing sexually assaulted one of his victims multiple times in early 2021.
He coerced a former partner into maintaining a sexual relationship by threatening to falsely accuse him of rape. Additionally, he demanded access to the man’s social media passwords and sent threatening messages.
In June, a jury at the High Court in Edinburgh found Downing guilty of 10 charges, including sexual and physical assault, and domestic abuse.
During sentencing at the same court, Judge Alison Stirling highlighted Downing’s hostility towards women, lack of empathy for others, preoccupation with sex, and deviant sexual preferences. She assessed him as a high risk for reoffending.
‘No Remorse’
Stirling stated, “You have distorted views on intimate partner violence and have shown no remorse or understanding of the impact of your actions on your victims.”
She continued, “The risk of reoffending extends beyond intimate partners to adult women known to you.”
The judge added, “Your offenses likely caused significant psychological and physical harm to all your victims, potentially leading to prolonged psychological recovery.”
Downing did not react to the sentencing, but blew kisses to the public gallery as he was escorted away.
Representing Downing, Michael Meehan, KC, acknowledged the severity of the offenses and stressed considering the impact on the victims during sentencing.
In his defense, Meehan mentioned that Downing faced homophobic abuse at school and should be sentenced as a young person considering his immaturity and potential for rehabilitation.
While working for the SNP in 2022, Downing engaged in online disputes with “gender critical” individuals, using derogatory language and advocating violence against women. He expressed a desire to “beat the [expletive] out of some terfs and transphobes.”
His remarks drew condemnation from prominent women’s rights activists like J. K. Rowling and former SNP MP Joanna Cherry, KC, leading to his resignation from the job. His social media account on platform X is now private.
Ms. Cherry commented on X following the sentencing remarks, criticizing the SNP’s tolerance of violence against women.
Downing held positions within the SNP as an equalities officer in Edinburgh and London, as per his LinkedIn profile. He was active in the party’s LGBT wing and has been seen with Nicola Sturgeon, former First Minister of Scotland, at an SNP conference.
‘A Dangerous Individual’
Scotland’s procurator fiscal for High Court sexual offending, Katrina Parkes, described Downing as a dangerous individual responsible for inflicting unimaginable trauma through predatory and manipulative actions.
Parkes commended the victims for their courage in bringing about the prosecution and encouraged additional victims to come forward for justice.
Downing received a six-year prison sentence and a three-year license, along with an indefinite non-harassment order for one victim. He will also be placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.
PA Media contributed to this report.
