Man sentenced for indecent images after being caught flying drone over primary school

A man has been sentenced for child sex offences after being caught flying a drone over a primary school in Salisbury.

Jeremy Bird, 48, of Coldharbour Lane, Salisbury, appeared at Winchester Crown Court yesterday (28/04) after pleading guilty to two counts of making indecent images of children and recklessly allowing an aircraft to endanger people or property.

He was jailed for 19 months, suspended for two years. He was also made the subject of a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

On September 13^th, 2023, police received a report that a drone had been flown over a primary school within the Salisbury area on several occasions, following the children within the playing fields.

At around the same time, police received a further report from another school within the Salisbury area reporting that when teachers were taking the children out to visit a harvest festival, a man was seen recording the children and trying to chat with them.

The man was seen a short time later in a vehicle appearing to be taking more pictures of the children.

Enquiries by police identified the suspect as Jeremy Bird. He was arrested and searches of his devices found a considerable number of indecent images of unknown children.

He was subsequently charged and convicted.

Complex Crime Investigator Debbie Quayle said: “I’d like to thank the schools for reporting Jeremy Bird’s behaviour – without their support we would be unaware of the extent of his offending.

“Mr Bird has taken no accountability for his actions and the fear he put into the children when flying his drone near to them to film them.

“He has now been sentenced and has been made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which places limits on his internet use and travel.

“He is also not allowed to own or use a drone and must also allow officers into his address to do checks.

“I hope this investigation also shows that we will not tolerate any person who uses drones in an inappropriate manner, and they will be put before the courts.”