Wiring blunder led to false accusation over abuse images

THREE people were wrongly accused of downloading child abuse images due to a broadband wiring error by a BT engineer, a tribunal has heard.

- ELLIE GOSLEY

A mistake in the wiring inside a street cabinet made years earlier meant internet activity linked to the real offender was traced to an address where two men and a woman were living.

Dyfed-Powys Police began an investigation into the sharing of indecent images of children (IOC), and data provided by BT about the IP address the images were downloaded from resulted in the three individuals having their electronic devices seized and examined during two searches by officers.

The false accusations back in 2016 had been "highly distressing" and had "serious consequences" for the three, who had to tell their employers about the investigation, the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT) was told.

One of the men was placed on restricted duties at work after his employer was told a child protection investigation was ongoing against him and the other had a job offer withdrawn.