Ireland Case No. 20699Rape
Male model jailed for raping student at house party
Tim Bowen, a 46-year-old man originally from south Wales, was arrested after a vigilante group confronted him at a Costa Coffee cafe on Bishopstown Road in Bishopstown, Cork, in July 2019; he had arranged to meet what he believed was a 14-year-old girl, but she was an adult decoy. Reports give the meeting date as 24 or 26 July 2019. Bowen pleaded guilty in March 2023 to attempting to communicate with a child for the purpose of sexual exploitation and attempting to meet a child for sexual exploitation. On 14 June 2023 Cork Circuit Criminal Court sentenced him, with the two charges running concurrently; one report gives a total of 18 months with the final two years suspended, and another gives a headline five years reduced to 3½ years with the final two years suspended.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced14 Jun
2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A 46-year-old man, Tim Bowen, attempted to meet what he believed was a 14-year-old girl for sexual exploitation.
- Bowen sent pictures of his genitalia to the adult decoy and made arrangements for the decoy to travel to Ireland to have sex.
- Where
- The meeting was set at a Costa Coffee cafe on Bishopstown Road in Bishopstown, Cork.
- When
- Reports give the meeting date as 26 July 2019 in one account and 24 July 2019 in the guilty plea to attempting to meet the child.
- Messages and photos were exchanged with the decoy from 4 to 26 July 2019.
- Cause
- A vigilante group that used an adult decoy pretending to be a young girl set up the meeting; the decoy was working in the UK for Child Awareness Protection.
- Investigation
- The group confronted Bowen, posted the encounter online and alerted gardaí.
- Bowen made a full admission when arrested, and after viewing the dossier gardaí cautioned him and he agreed he had come to the cafe to have sex with the girl.
- The defence said Bowen co-operated fully with gardaí and gave them access to his phone and laptop.
- Charges
- Bowen pleaded guilty in March 2023 to attempting to communicate with a child by using information and communication technology for the purpose of facilitating sexual exploitation, contrary to section 8(1) of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017.
- He also pleaded guilty to attempting to intentionally meet a child with whom he had previous communication for the purposes of sexual exploitation, namely sexual assault, contrary to section 7(1) of the same Act.
- In court
- Bowen appeared for sentencing at Cork Circuit Criminal Court on 14 June 2023, though one report names Cork District Court.
- Judge Colin Daly described the sexual exploitation of a child as a most heinous offence and said Bowen's culpability was very high.
- Sentence
- Reports differ: one says he was jailed for 18 months with the final two years suspended, while another says a headline sentence of five years was reduced to 3½ years for the guilty plea, with the final two years suspended.
- Other details
- Bowen is a self-employed handyman, originally from south Wales, who has lived in Ireland for the past decade and gave an address in Monkstown, Co Cork.
25 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA 46-year-old man was jailed for 18 months. (rte.ie)
- whatBowen sent pictures of his genitalia to the decoy. (rte.ie)
- whatBowen made arrangements for the decoy to travel to Ireland to have sex. (rte.ie)
- whereThe man was caught at a Costa Coffee cafe on Bishopstown Road in Bishopstown, Cork. (irishtimes.com)
- whenOn 26 July 2019 Bowen was confronted by the group, which posted the encounter online and contacted gardaí. (rte.ie)
- whenThe meeting took place on 26 July 2019. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe group met the man using an adult decoy pretending to be the young girl. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí were alerted by a vigilante group. (rte.ie)
- investigationBowen made a full admission when arrested. (rte.ie)
- investigationGardaí said the dossier showed messages and photos exchanged with the decoy from July 4th until July 26th. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationAfter viewing the dossier, gardaí cautioned him and he agreed he had come to the cafe to have sex with the girl. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeBowen pleaded guilty to attempting to communicate with a child for the purpose of facilitating sexual exploitation between 4 and 26 July 2019. (rte.ie)
- chargeBowen also pleaded guilty to attempting to meet the child at Costa Coffee in Bishopstown on 24 July 2019. (rte.ie)
- chargeHe pleaded guilty to attempting to communicate with a child by using information and communication technology for the purpose of facilitating the sexual exploitation of a child. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe pleaded guilty to attempting to intentionally meet a child with whom he had a previous communication for the purposes of sexual exploitation. (irishtimes.com)
- courtBowen appeared before Cork Circuit Criminal Court for sentencing. (rte.ie)
- courtJudge Colin Daly described the sexual exploitation of a child as a most heinous offence. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceBowen was sentenced to 18 months in prison on both charges, to run concurrently. (rte.ie)
- sentenceThe final two years of the sentence were suspended for two years. (rte.ie)
- sentenceThe judge set a headline sentence of five years, reduced to 3½ years for the guilty plea. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe judge suspended the final two years of the sentence. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe decoy adult was working in the UK for the vigilante group Child Awareness Protection. (rte.ie)
- otherBowen is originally from south Wales and has lived in Ireland for the past decade. (rte.ie)
- otherThe judge said Bowen's culpability was very high. (rte.ie)
- otherThe defence said he had co-operated fully with gardaí and gave them access to his phone and laptop. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 14 Jun2023Man jailed after being caught by ‘paedophile hunters’ when he arranged to have sex with 14-year-old girl
Reports the guilty pleas, the Cork District Court sentence of 18 months with the final two years suspended, and the mitigation put forward for the accused.
convicted, Tim Bowen, 46, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Tim Bowen - 14 Jun2023Man jailed over sexual exploitation offence
Reports the Cork Circuit Criminal Court sentencing on 14 June 2023: 18 months in total, with the final two years suspended. Adds the court details, the judge's comments and the defence mitigation.
convicted, Tim Bowen, 46, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Tim Bowen