Ben Cullen, a 45-year-old man from Wallingford and a leading figure in the flag activist group Raise the Colours Oxfordshire, has been charged with three counts of making indecent images of children. He is due to appear at Reading Crown Court on Wednesday.
Details of the charges
Cullen is accused of making 22 indecent category A photographs, including one moving image, on March 25, 2021, in Wallingford. He also faces charges of making 36 indecent category B pseudo-photographs of children and 20 category C images on the same date, according to the Oxford Mail. Pseudo-photographs are images created using AI or graphics tools, which are illegal even if the original picture was not of a real person.
Group distances itself from Cullen
The wider Raise the Colours group has distanced itself from Cullen following the allegations. In a statement on social media, the group said: 'Raise the Colours wishes to make clear that we were not aware, and have never previously been aware, of the allegations reported concerning Ben Cullen (Raise the Colours Oxfordshire). This is the first time we have learned of the matter.' The statement added that Cullen 'was not affiliated with Raise the Colours' and that while some members may have put flags up with him, 'this does not mean he represented, was part of, or was affiliated' with the movement. The group emphasized that they take such allegations 'extremely seriously' but declined to comment further as the matter is before the courts.
High Court injunction against flag-raising
Oxfordshire County Council recently obtained a High Court injunction against Cullen, Kevin Good, Ryan Bridge, Trudy Wells, and any individuals attempting to hang flags on public structures or harassing staff removing them. The council took this action after complaints from residents in areas from Adderbury to Wallingford about 'safety risks, intimidation and distress' linked to illegally placed flags.
Councillor Tim Bearder, leader of the county council, commented on the injunction: 'We’re pleased with this result. The injunction helps protect our residents and our workforce and supports our responsibility to keep the highway safe. This is not, and never has been, about the flag. We proudly fly the Union Flag and St George’s flag at County Hall and we fully support the right of residents to display their own flags – including to show their support for the England football team. However, the behaviour we’ve seen from Raise the Colours is nothing to do with national pride or with support for the England team during the World Cup. It’s unlawful behaviour, which has put people at risk and caused fear within our communities for almost a year.'
