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| Artist Graham Ovenden guilty of indecency charges | Artist Graham Ovenden guilty of indecency charges |
| (1 day later) | |
| A well-known artist from Cornwall has been found guilty of indecency against young girls. | A well-known artist from Cornwall has been found guilty of indecency against young girls. |
| Graham Ovenden denied the charges, which dated back about 40 years and were said to have occurred in London and Cornwall. | Graham Ovenden denied the charges, which dated back about 40 years and were said to have occurred in London and Cornwall. |
| During the trial at Truro Crown Court the jury was shown examples of the 70-year-old's work, much of it involving children. | During the trial at Truro Crown Court the jury was shown examples of the 70-year-old's work, much of it involving children. |
| Ovenden was convicted on six counts of indecency and one of indecent assault. | Ovenden was convicted on six counts of indecency and one of indecent assault. |
| He was cleared on three counts of indecency and two of indecent assault. | He was cleared on three counts of indecency and two of indecent assault. |
| 'Witch-hunt' | 'Witch-hunt' |
| Ovenden, of The Garage, Barley Splatt, near Bodmin Moor in Cornwall, was not present in court, having been taken ill last week. | |
| Judge Graham Cottle released Ovenden on bail and adjourned sentencing for a date to be fixed at Plymouth Crown Court. | Judge Graham Cottle released Ovenden on bail and adjourned sentencing for a date to be fixed at Plymouth Crown Court. |
| A former pupil under Sir Peter Blake, Ovenden has had work exhibited in galleries across the globe. | A former pupil under Sir Peter Blake, Ovenden has had work exhibited in galleries across the globe. |
| He had denied all the charges relating to four children - now all adults - between 1972 and 1985. | He had denied all the charges relating to four children - now all adults - between 1972 and 1985. |
| Ovenden was described in court by prosecutor Ramsay Quaife as "a paedophile" who abused children while they modelled for him. | Ovenden was described in court by prosecutor Ramsay Quaife as "a paedophile" who abused children while they modelled for him. |
| But the artist denied the abuse ever happened. He told the court he had taken pictures of children - including those in various states of undress - but said they were not indecent. | But the artist denied the abuse ever happened. He told the court he had taken pictures of children - including those in various states of undress - but said they were not indecent. |
| When giving evidence, Ovenden said there was a "witch-hunt" against those who produce work involving naked children and he accused police of "falsifying" images recovered from his home computer. | When giving evidence, Ovenden said there was a "witch-hunt" against those who produce work involving naked children and he accused police of "falsifying" images recovered from his home computer. |