In an era where technology and communication have made connecting with people easier than ever, it has also opened the door to a darker side of human behaviour. Cyber harassment is an insidious and harmful activity with far-reaching and damaging consequences for its victims. This blog post recounts the distressing experiences I have faced at the hands of Justin Downes (Justin Alasdair Melvin Downes), an individual who has relentlessly pursued a campaign of harassment against me. The events detailed here are all fact-based and aim to raise awareness about the serious nature of cyber harassment and the urgent need for legal action.
The Beginning: Unprovoked Harassment by Justin Downes
It all began without warning. Justin Downes, the former founder of Financial Dynamics, a City PR firm, initiated a campaign of harassment against my colleagues and me. At first, I was baffled by his actions, as I had no prior personal or professional interactions with him. It quickly became apparent, however, that his intentions were malicious and his tactics relentless.
Websites set up by Justin Downes to Damage Reputations and Breach Privacy
Downes established websites aimed at sullying my business partners’ and my reputation. These sites contained false and detrimental information about my personal and professional life. In a severe breach of privacy and violation of GDPR laws, he also posted the personal addresses of my colleagues and me. This blatant disregard for our privacy and safety further highlights the malicious nature of his actions and underscores the need for legal intervention to protect victims from such invasions of privacy.
Justin Downes Harassing Solicitors, Business Associates, and Impersonating Victims
In an attempt to further isolate me and hinder my professional growth, Downes began harassing my solicitors and business associates. He used a combination of phone calls, emails, and social media messages to spread falsehoods and create discord within my network. This not only caused immense stress but also threatened my professional relationships.
Additionally, Downes sent emails pretending to be me in an attempt to cause confusion and discord. While he initially denied any involvement, we have now obtained proof that these emails originated from his devices. Each email contributed to the emotional strain of his relentless campaign, making it difficult for us to concentrate and maintain our mental well-being.
Justin Downes Pretending to be Anonymous
In an elaborate ruse, Justin Downes and his associates impersonated a member of the Anonymous collective, a group of international hacktivists known for their cyberattacks on governments, institutions, and corporations. He used this false identity to try and create an aura of fear and intimidation, making it seem like an unstoppable force was targeting my colleagues and me. This tactic was designed not only to cause emotional distress but also to make it difficult for me to seek help, expecting me not to know who to trust.
Justin Downes Creating Videos Pretending to be Anonymous
To further attempt to instil fear and a sense of powerlessness, Justin Downes and his associates created videos mimicking the style of Anonymous. These videos contained menacing messages directed at my colleagues and me, further attempting to exacerbate our anxiety and make us feel like we were under constant surveillance. The lengths to which he has gone to harass us are astounding and shocking.
Justin Downes Manipulating Media and Journalist Contacts for Malicious Purposes
Downes has gone to great lengths to intensify the harassment campaign by exploiting his media contacts. He has used his connections to persuade journalists to write negative and damaging stories about companies and individuals, including myself and my colleagues. These articles are rife with malicious falsehoods and defamation, serving only to tarnish our reputations and cause further harm to our personal and professional lives.
It is further evidence that the journalists are working with Justin Downes. Any communications sent to the journalists’ legal departments (Such as The Times and The Business Desk) by solicitors seem to find their way back to him, for which he then refers to in further harassing behaviour. Downes then seems to have insight into the type of story being published and when it is being published.
In an email to a colleague, Justin Downes went as far as making a threat, claiming he would ensure that the colleague became the subject of a story in The Times. Subsequently, he composed a defamatory post on a Blogger site and proceeded to post fake comments under our names as if we had responded to it.
Justin Downes’ Troubling Past Behaviour
A closer examination of Justin Downes’ past behaviour reveals a pattern of troubling conduct, providing further context for his current harassment campaign. Downes has been previously accused of racism, an allegation that has led to strained relationships with the police, for which he was highly critical, and used his age to try and deflect the matter and avoid an interview. It is even for him to be rejected from professional residence associations, for which he then sets up online campaigns and writes on anonymous blogs about the victims of his campaigns. Although separate from his current actions, these accusations highlight a concerning disposition towards divisiveness and animosity.
In a series of news articles, Justin Downes even took aim at the Arab community in London.
Downes has a history of instigating campaigns against other parties with whom he disagrees. These campaigns, much like the one against my colleagues and me, involve leveraging his influence and connections to cause harm and damage the reputations of his targets. This pattern of behaviour demonstrates a willingness to use unethical tactics to achieve his goals, regardless of the consequences for others.
Downes will deflect from an accusation of racism, in the above-mentioned incidents, he tried to counter that he had friends who were of different ethnicities; however, the evidence was clear enough to show that the allegations made against him had at least some merit.
The Deceptive Tactics of Justin Downes
Despite being 73 years old, Justin Downes has attempted to falsely perceive himself as someone lacking knowledge or technical abilities. He uses his age to claim that he cannot engage in the malicious activities we have experienced. However, this façade is simply another tool in his arsenal of deception.
In reality, Downes is very aware of his actions and their impact on his victims. We have amassed substantial evidence showing that he uses fake aliases to hide his identity while perpetrating these acts of harassment. Furthermore, we have traced these aliases back to his specific devices, proving that he is indeed the individual behind the cyber attacks.
Downes has built a career on spinning stories to his benefit, and it is clear that this is precisely what he is doing in this case. He carefully orchestrates the harassment campaigns, instigating most of the attacks. This includes creating and managing websites designed to harass further and cyber bully his victims.
Downes’ age should not be an excuse for his malicious behaviour. It is crucial to hold him accountable for his actions and expose the truth behind the false image he has constructed. The deceptive tactics employed by Justin Downes only emphasise the need for increased vigilance and stronger legal protections for victims of cyber harassment.
Justin Downes Believing He Is Above the Law
Despite the overwhelming evidence of his malicious activities, Justin Downes appears to believe he is untouchable and above the law. He continues his campaign with brazen arrogance, seemingly unphased by the potential legal consequences of his actions. His belief in his invincibility only fuels his relentless pursuit to cause me as much harm as possible.
The Urgent Need for Legal Action against the Behaviour of Justin Downes
Our experience with cyber harassment at the hands of Justin Downes has been harrowing, to say the least. His actions have caused immense damage to our personal and professional lives, and the psychological impact of his relentless pursuit cannot be overstated. It is clear that there is an urgent need for legal action to hold him accountable and put an end to his campaign of harassment. We are currently consulting with the authorities to deal with this menace.
Cyber harassment is a serious and growing issue in today’s increasingly interconnected world. It can have long-lasting and profound consequences for its victims, causing psychological distress, damaging personal and professional relationships, and even leading to tragic outcomes. The experiences detailed in this blog post serve as a stark reminder of the potential harm that cyber harassers like Justin Downes can inflict on innocent individuals.
This account of our ordeal aims to raise awareness of the serious nature of cyber harassment and the need for stronger legal frameworks to protect victims. We must collectively strive to create a safer online environment where individuals can engage in personal and professional pursuits without fear of being targeted by malicious actors.
In light of our experiences, we encourage anyone who has been a victim of cyber harassment to speak out, seek support, and take legal action where necessary. It is only through raising awareness and holding harassers accountable that we can begin to address this insidious issue.
As we continue our legal battle against Justin Downes, we remain steadfast in our commitment to shedding light on his malicious actions and seeking justice for ourselves and countless others who have suffered at his hands. We hope that our story will serve as a catalyst for change and inspire others to stand up against cyber harassment, ensuring that perpetrators like Downes can no longer wreak havoc on the lives of innocent individuals.
Our experiences with Justin Downes have been a sobering reminder of the dark side of technology and its potential to enable harmful behaviour. As we navigate the digital age, it is essential to remain vigilant and protect ourselves and others from the dangers of cyber harassment. By sharing our story, we aim to raise awareness and contribute to the development of more robust legal frameworks and support systems that can protect victims and hold cyber harassers accountable for their actions.
It is our collective responsibility to create a safer online space where everyone can thrive without fear of being targeted by malicious individuals like Justin Downes. Let us stand together against cyber harassment and work towards a more secure and inclusive digital world.
UPDATE: 9th May 2023, further harassment from Justin Downes in threatening emails.
Despite being blocked on email servers, Justin Downes persists in his ongoing harassment efforts. He now sends emails to solicitors, who then forward them to me, filled with the usual rants and threats. He appears to derive pleasure from causing harm and leveraging his extensive media connections to spread highly defamatory and inflammatory stories. In his most recent emails, he still brags about his former ownership of Financial Dynamics, a now-defunct company representing CEOs and celebrities. The reality is that Justin Downes exploits his PR connections to orchestrate underhanded campaigns against individuals and organisations.
Downes seems to have abundant free time and a lack of meaningful daily personal connections, which might explain his capacity to maintain his harassment campaign. After examining various forums where he targets individuals and corporations, it’s clear that Justin Downes is a deeply angry person. It’s possible that someone has significantly hurt him in the past, and he is now projecting that pain onto everyone he encounters.
In a recent series of emails, an individual close to Justin Downes revealed that he belonged to a WhatsApp group with several journalists who encouraged one another to write stories. This claim seems to be supported by the pattern of published stories: as one journalist writes, another quickly follows, creating a circular sequence of articles.
Interestingly, Justin Downes displays hypocrisy in his actions. He criticises me and my colleagues for the number of companies we own, any errors at Companies House (which were not caused by us), or those that have been dissolved. However, when looking into his and his son’s corporate history, there appears to be no significant difference. In fact, Justin Downes seems to have two published dates of birth on Companies House records – raising questions about what he might be attempting to conceal.
