Man caught flying drone over Wiltshire primary school sentenced for child sex offences
Jeremy Bird, 48, admitted making indecent images of children
A man, who flew a drone over a primary school in Wiltshire, has been given a suspended sentence after admitting making indecent images of children.
Jeremy Bird, 48, from Coldharbour Lane, Sailsbury appeared at Winchester Crown Court on 28th April 2026 after pleading guilty to two counts of making indecent images of children and recklessly allowing an aircraft to endanger people or property.
He was given a 19 month prison sentence, suspended for two years, as well as a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).
On 13th September 2023, police received a report that a drone had been flown over a primary school in the Salisbury area, and following the children in the playing fields.
Around the same period, 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 later seen in a vehicle appearing to take more pictures of the children.
Following police enquiries, Jeremy Bird was identified and subsequently arrested, leading to the discovery of a significant number of indecent images of unknown children on his devices.
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.”