So deleting the pictures from the camera was a red herring.
Correct. That was commented upon previously - it's what most digital photographers do. Transfer all images to a storage medium, so that the best ones can be tweaked using digital image programs, but bin the ones that are no good. Or just delete them from the camera preview without bothering to download, if you judge them to be no good.
Back in the days of Ektachrome, I wouldn't keep all my slides either. Keep the good ones, throw out the rest.
Quite which numpty tried to make something of the fact that Andy had deleted images from his camera, I don't know. But it was a total red herring.
Those who haven't seen Andy's art have missed some truly excellent photography; his prowess as a photographer is well known.