Anna Downes, a musician who waived her anonymity, reported receiving pornographic images and videos from Ben Gunnery, a fellow musician she met once in 2024. Despite reporting the cyberflashing incident to West Mercia Police in September, Gunnery's arrest and conviction took nearly six months. Ms. Downes contacted the police over 20 times during this period, feeling ignored and made to feel like a nuisance. She eventually contacted the BBC, which facilitated a quicker resolution.

Gunnery, 45, was arrested, charged, and found guilty in May of intentionally sending the images. He received a two-year community order with 150 hours of unpaid work in July. The court heard he had a previous conviction for a similar offense in 2023 and claimed he had mistakenly sent the images to Ms. Downes while struggling with cocaine addiction. West Mercia Police apologized for the delay, attributing it to difficulties transferring the case to the Metropolitan Police due to confirming Gunnery's address. An internal review deemed their service "acceptable."

Ms. Downes shared her experience to encourage others to report similar incidents, highlighting the need for a more serious approach to cyberflashing. She felt her case was not prioritized, contrasting with the public response to other high-profile cases. Gunnery was suspended from his teaching position and will not be re-employed by the college.

Impact Statement: The case highlights concerns about the handling of cyberflashing reports and the potential for delays in investigations, impacting victims' experiences and potentially emboldening offenders.