FERGUS Ewing has called for an internal probe into a former SNP equalities officer after they were jailed for six years over a series of sexual and physical assaults.
The former Cabinet secretary told The Sunday Mail there were questions that “must not be swept under the carpet” after Cameron Downing, 24, was found to have attacked seven people at a variety of locations in Scotland over a five-year period between 2016 and 2021.
Downing, from Edinburgh, sexually assaulted one of his victims “on various occasions” in early 2021.
Downing was elected to a role as the SNP London branch’s equalities officer in August 2022, after complaints had been raised about his online behaviour – which included posting on social media that he was “in the mood to beat the f*** out of some terfs and transphobes” in September 2020.
Speaking to The Sunday Mail, Ewing said there were “vital questions about this person, whom I have never met, and the support he appears to have enjoyed from the SNP top command”.
That paper reported that Downing had been photographed with SNP MSPs Nicola Sturgeon and Karen Adam, and alongside former SNP MP Alyn Smith.
Ewing went on: “These questions must not be swept under the carpet; a carpet already bulging with numerous other unanswered questions – like 'where’s all the referendum money gone?' and 'what did we need a campervan for?'
“Reality doesn’t go away by ignoring it. The people get that. It’s long overdue time that the SNP party leadership does too.”
Last month a jury at the High Court in Edinburgh found Downing guilty of a total of 10 charges, including sexual and physical assault, and domestic abuse.
Sentencing him at the same court in July, Judge Alison Stirling told Downing he had “the capacity to cause physical and sexual harm as well as psychological distress”.
She said: “You have distorted views regarding intimate partner violence, and you have shown no remorse or insight into how your actions may have affected your victim.”
The judge added: “Your offences are likely to have caused significant psychological and physical harm to all of your victims, and their psychological recovery from your actions could be prolonged.”
She said Downing showed a “hostility towards women, lack of concern for others, sexual preoccupation and deviant sexual preference”, and that he was at high risk of reoffending.
Downing was reported to have showed no reaction as the sentence was handed down, and blew kisses to the public gallery as he was led from the dock.
Michael Meehan KC, representing Downing, told the court he accepted the seriousness of his client’s offences and said the court should “have regard to the impact on the victims”.
Downing was imprisoned for six years with a further three years on licence, and was also made the subject of an indefinite non-harassment order in respect of one of the complainers.
He will also be placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.
The SNP said: “Cameron has not been a member of the party for some time since his social media views came to light. We hope this conviction gives some closure to Cameron’s victims.”
