Latest Offenders Carmarthen

Description

Convicted paedophile who instructed a 14-year-old girl to carry out sex acts on video calls with him whilst he masturbated.

Ethan Rich, 24, of Cwmann, was jailed for nine years and nine months for a series of sexual offences, with an additional three years extended licence period.

Rich was already subject to a sexual harm prevention order and was on the sex offenders register for life after he was convicted in August 2020 of “strikingly similar” offences to those he was back before the court on.

Dyfed-Powys Police attended Rich’s address on August 30, with his mum answering the door. Rich – who was living in a caravan at the rear of the property – didn’t reply when asked by officers whether he had access to mobile phones.

He admitted he had a phone when his mum encouraged him to “tell the truth”, prosecutor Hannah George said.

The officers were also told he had been staying at an address in Cellan for seven or more days between May 28 and July 8 without notifying the police.

Rich was bailed and that phone was registered with the police.

In October, officers received a report that he was contacting a 14-year-old girl, Ms George said.

He was arrested at his home address, and after Rich’s previously registered phone was seized, a second phone could be heard vibrating.

Each of the phones were analysed, and it was found Rich had a WhatsApp account under the name ‘Bob Ross’ and a Snapchat account under another false name. He had also made searches for ‘how to change your display name on Snapchat’ and ‘how to sign in to Snapchat on two accounts on an iPhone’.

“The defendant was aware she was under the age of 16,” Ms George said, adding that the girl had sent Rich pictures of her in her school uniform and of her classroom.

The court heard he had also searched for ‘age of consent’, ‘young teen’, and ‘what is a paedophile’.

On his devices, Rich had seven Category A indecent images of the girl. Amongst these were recordings of five video calls between them from between October 1 and 3. In the videos, Rich was instructing the girl to carry out various sexual acts on herself while he could also be seen masturbating on the calls.

He was also charged with a further breach of his sexual harm prevention order relating to this communication with an underage girl.

Rich was arrested and initially claimed in interview that he believed the girl was 19.

He later pleaded guilty to four offences of breaching a sexual harm prevention order, one of breaching the sex offender notification requirements, one of possession of indecent images of a child, and five offences each of causing a child to engage in sexual activity and engaging in sexual activity in presence of child.

Georgia Donohue, in mitigation, admitted that it was “inevitable” that Rich would receive a very lengthy prison sentence”.

Ms Donohue said the defendant was “perhaps someone who presents as significantly younger than his chronological age” and that he had recently been diagnosed with ADHD and was receiving support for autism.

She added that Rich “struggled with his mental health”, which was “perhaps exacerbated” by his drug use.

Ms Donohue said Rich realised “he has to deal with the repercussions of his actions”, and had spent his time in custody well – getting a job as a cleaner and starting to learn French.

Sentencing Rich, Judge Paul Thomas KC said: “In the past, you have made the subject of orders which led to you undergoing courses. It is clear that despite a great deal of effort being put in by the criminal justice system to get you to change your ways, you have learnt nothing – or at least nothing positive.

“Your immaturity is a source of danger to young girls as you do not learn your lesson.”

Rich will remain subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and must remain on the sex offenders register for life.

Description

A man posed as a taxi driver in order to kidnap a lone woman and sexually assault her. Andras Jancso lured his victim into his car in the early hours of the morning and drove her to an isolated car park before telling her he would not release her until she agreed to sex.

Swansea Crown Court heard the attack has had a profound effect on the young victim leaving her feeling "numb" and wishing for her old life back. She said when she realised the driver was not taking her home but was stopping in an empty car park she believed he was going to rape and kill her.

The court heard that in the early hours of July 2 last year Jancso was "cruising" the streets of Swansea city centre in his black car looking for women to have sex with. He identified a lone and intoxicated female who was making her way home following a night out with friends and after following her for some time persuaded her to get into his vehicle. The 45-year-old then drove her to the car park of Swansea Tennis Centre near the Morfa retail park – a location which at 4am was deserted – and demanded sex. The defendant then touched the woman's thighs over and under her clothes. The court heard the young woman managed to contact a friend on her phone and when Jancso realised what she had done he stopped the assault and drove the woman home.

In a statement from the victim that was read to the court she said she had always prided herself on being streetwise and thought she would be safe using what she thought was a licensed cab. She said she would never forget the feeling of "sheer panic" she experienced when she looked up to see the driver was pulling into an isolated car park with nobody around and no prospect of rescue. The victim, who has automatic lifelong legal anonymity, said: "I thought: 'This is how I am going to die. He is going to rape me and then he is going to kill me'." The woman also said she used to be a positive and outgoing person but now just feels "numb" and she said she wishes she could have the life she used to have.

Andras Jancso, of Coleshill Terrace, Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, had previously been convicted by a jury of kidnap, sexual assault, and committing an offence with intent to commit a sexual offence when he returned to the dock for sentencing. At the time he preyed on the woman in the city centre the defendant was subject to a community order for possession of indecent images and extreme pornography.

Judge Paul Thomas KC said on the night in question Jancso had been "cruising Swansea city centre" posing as a taxi driver and looking for women for sex in what was a "planned course of conduct". He noted that police subsequently found photographs and videos of women's behinds that the defendant had taken while driving around. The judge said CCCTV footage showed the defendant had followed his target in his black car for some time until she was alone and had then encouraged her to get into the vehicle by "effectively telling her you were a taxi driver" before driving her to the tennis centre car park and assaulting her. The judge said he had no doubt the defendant would have gone on to carry out a more serious sexual assault had his passenger not had sufficient wits about her to make contact with a friend via her mobile.

Jancso was sentenced to six years in prison comprising four years for kidnap, two years for sexual assault, and six years for committing an offence with intent to commit a sexual offence all to run concurrently. He will serve up to half that period in custody before being released on licence. The defendant will be a registered sex offender for life and was made the subject of an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

Description

A man sent "vile and explicit" messages to someone he thought was a 12-year-old girl he had met online. Jonathan Strain told the child he was looking "for horny girls who want video call fun" and said he wanted to "trade" nude photographs. He also told what he thought was a schoolgirl not to tell her friends about what was going on as it was their secret.

Swansea Crown Court heard the 37-year-old was actually engaging in sexual conversations with an adult who was volunteering as part of an online so-called paedophile hunter group. Sending the defendant to prison a judge told him he had an "unhealthy and deviant interest in pre-teenage girls".

James Hartson, prosecuting, told the court that in October 2021 Strain made contact with a profile on the Wink app purporting to be that of 12-year-old girl living in the Manchester area. After chatting with what he believed to a girl Strain asked for her mobile number and the exchanges moved to WhatsApp. The prosecutor said in reality Strain was communicating with a decoy account being operated by "in effect vigilantes" with an online group.

The court heard that over the following months the defendant engaged in sexually explicit conversations with the profile, encouraged her to perform sex acts on herself, and sent her videos of himself masturbating. He also called the girl "beautiful" and "gorgeous", said he loved her, and offered to be her first boyfriend saying they could do "boyfriend and girlfriend stuff" together. Strain also said he was looking "for horny girls who want video call fun" and offered to buy the child a mobile phone with a camera, and said he wanted to "trade" nude photographs. He told the girl she could trust him "100%". The court heard that during one conversation the defendant asked the girl if she had school the next day and told her not to tell any of her friends about what was going on as it was their "secret". 

The conversations lasted for around four months before the group operating the decoy passed the information to a paedophile hunter group in Wales and in March 2022 members of the local group went to the defendant’s address. Strain wasn’t at home but his details were passed to the police and later that evening he was arrested. The court heard that in his subsequent interview the defendant said he had lost his mobile phone before the conversations with the decoy took place.

Jonathan Strain, of Treherbert Street, Cwmann, Lampeter, Carmarthenshire, had previously pleaded guilty to attempting to cause a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity and attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act when he appeared in the dock for sentencing. He has no previous convictions. Ian Ibrahim, for Strain, described the defendant as "shy" and "introverted" and as someone who doesn't talk to anyone.

Judge Huw Rees said Strain had engaged in "vile and explicit conversations", and he told the defendant he had an "unhealthy and deviant interest in pre-teenage girls". With a 20% discount for this guilty pleas Strain was sentenced to four years and seven months in prison. He will serve up to half that period in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community. Strain will be a registered sex offender for the rest of his life.

Description

A paedophile father and son groomed and sexually abused a vulnerable young girl. Pensioner Roy Lockett initially targeted the child and subjected her to a lengthy period of abuse before "handing her over as a prize" to his rugby coach son who continued the abuse.

The pair then denied the offending, forcing the youngster to go through the ordeal of giving evidence at a trial. Swansea Crown Court heard the abuse meted out by the dad and son has had a profound effect on the victim leaving her feeling "worthless". Sending the defendants to prison a judge told 73-year-old Lockett he had used the girl "as his sexual plaything" and then "handed her over as a prize" to his 42-year-old son who continued the abuse.

The court heard widower Lockett targeted and groomed the girl and sexually abused her for a period of more than a year with the abuse including the use of items from his large collection of sex toys. He also took indecent photographs of the child and plied her with alcohol. Lockett's son, rugby coach Austin, then took over the abuse.

In statements from the victim which were read to the court the girl said what the defendants did to her had left her feeling anxious, depressed, "used", and "worthless". She said the abuse had affected every aspect of her life including her schooling, sleeping, and eating. In the statements she said that going through the court process had been "scary" and it had been embarrassing to talk about what happened to her in front of strangers but she said when she heard of the guilty verdicts from jurors "it felt like I could breathe again".

Roy Lockett, of Pembrey Road, Llanelli, had previously been convicted of three counts of causing a child to engage in sexual activity, causing a child to watch a sexual act, two counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child, and making an indecent photograph of a child and had previously pleaded guilty to causing a child to engage in sexual activity and two counts of engaging in sexual communications with a child when he appeared in the dock for sentencing. Peter Austin, of Pant Y Celyn, Llanelli, had previously been convicted at trial of five counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child when he appeared alongside his dad in the dock.

Kate Williams, for Lockett, said the defendant did now accept his wrongdoing and that he must be punished for it. She said her client had health issues which would only get worse with time and said given his medical conditions he would find a custodial sentence harder than would a younger and fitter man. Dyfed Thomas, for Austin, said the defendant maintained the position he held at trial that he was not guilty. He said there was no evidence of anything untoward having happened in relation to Austin's role as a rugby coach and he said the offending against the girl had been "isolated" in nature.

Judge Paul Thomas KC said having heard the evidence in the trial he had no doubt that the defendants had been fully aware of what the other was doing to the vulnerable young girl. He said Lockett had groomed the girl first and used her "like his sexual plaything" including using items from his "hoard of sex toys" on her before he had "handed her over as a prize" to his son who continued the grooming and sexual abuse. The judge told Austin he had put himself in the role of a rugby coach knowing he had a "predilection" for young girls but he said there was no criticism to be made of the rugby authorities, the offending was unconnected to the coaching position, and the defendant had presented himself as a "responsible member of society".

The judge said both men had known of the victim's vulnerabilities when they targeted her and said in Lockett's belated admission of wrongdoing there was at least "a glimmer of some remorse" unlike in the case of his son who was maintaining his stance "in an attempt to present himself to some people as a victim of a miscarriage of justice", which he was not. Lockett was sentenced to a total of eight and a half years in prison and Austin was jailed for seven and a half years. Both defendants will be registered sex offenders for the rest of their lives and were made the subject of indefinite sex harm prevention orders.

Description

A 33-YEAR-OLD man “showed predatory behaviour” as he attempted to groom who he thought was a 12-year-old girl on social media, a court heard.

Simon Howard, from Llanybydder, appeared at Swansea Crown Court charged with engaging in sexual communication with a child, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence.

The court heard that Howard was talking to who he thought was a 12-year-old girl on social media. The profile was actually being run by an undercover officer from Tarian - the Regional Organised Crime Unit for southern Wales.

The content of the conversations showed that Howard acknowledged he was talking to a child, and he went on to graphically describe numerous sexual acts and plan to meet with the child.

Howard pleaded guilty to the offences, and was jailed for six years on October 9.

He must register as a sex offender for a period of 10 years, and was made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order for the same period of time.

The investigation was led by Tarian officers with support from Dyfed-Powys Police.

Detective Inspector Mathew Davies, of Tarian, said: “This is excellent joint working between Tarian and Dyfed Powys Police.

“The focus of the operation was to target high harm offenders, whilst safeguarding and protecting children.”

Detective Inspector Leon Lewis, from Dyfed Powys CID, said: “Simon Howard displayed predatory behaviour and groomed who he believed was a 12-year-old child.

“It is our absolute priority to protect and keep children safe in our communities.

“The work carried out by Tarian Regional Organised Crime Unit and Dyfed Powys Police has helped to ensure that vulnerable children are protected from the risk Howard poses to them.

Description

A man has been jailed for sexually assaulting a young girl. Gary Blount appeared at Swansea Crown Court for sentencing having been found guilty by a jury after trial of two counts of sexual assault of a child under the age of 13.

Defence barrister Ian Ibrahim, representing Blount, said: "He had a number of successful businesses and was the main income for his family. He was a sound technician, he would do lighting and events, security, and a number of other things. That's all gone now. He is in custody, and was reduced to living with his parents.

"His relationships have gone, his businesses have gone. These offences were seven or eight years ago and there has been no offending since. He suffers from anxiety and depression and is on suicide watch now."

Sentencing Blount, his honour judge Geraint Walters said: "You had denied all guilt but were convicted by a jury. The pre-sentence report indicates that you deny your guilt, something you are entitled to do. You have a relevant previous conviction in the way of two sexual offences which you were sentenced to 18 months imprisonment in 2018.

You were at that time required to register as a sex offender for 10 years and sign a sexual harm prevention order for a similar period of time. The date span of the offending in 2018 is such that it overlaps the date span of the offending in this particular case. You have shown no remorse in relation to the offending the jury found proved. It has had a significant affect upon the victim."

Blount, 44, of Cwmfelin Boeth, Whitland, was sentenced to five years in prison, and an indefinite restraining order was made preventing him from coming into contact with the victim.

Description

A convicted sex offender removed a secure messaging application from his phone before police could access it or check its use, a court has heard. It is the third time Shaun Smith has breached a sexual harm prevention order which is designed to control his use of the internet and his contact with children.

The first saw him acquire a mobile phone which he kept secret from the police and the second saw him buy an internet-enabled computer games console which he again did not disclose. The sexual harm prevention order order was imposed in December 2018 after Smith sent "demanding and controlling" Facebook messages to someone he believed to be a schoolgirl, asked for intimate photos, and then tried to meet up with her at a local McDonald's.

In reality the Facebook account was being operated by a member of a so-called paedophile hunter group. Sending the 57-year-old defendant back to prison a judge told him his breaches of the court order were escalating.

Swansea Crown Court heard that on morning of June 23 this year police responsible for monitoring the defendant in the community visited Smith at his home address to carry out a risk assessment. Harry Dickens, prosecuting, said the officers asked the defendant a series of questions about his lifestyle and circumstances and asked to see his phone. The detectives asked Smith if he had deleted anything from the device and the 57-year-old replied that he had deleted the Telegram messaging app a few days earlier.

The defendant was arrested on suspicion of breaching his sexual harm prevention order and taken to a police station for questioning. In his subsequent interview Smith said he had used Telegram to chat to a woman he had met on a website called Xhamster – a pornography and social networking site. The prosecutor said in deleting the app and its data – something which is prohibited by the terms of the sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) – Smith had also deleted the online history associated with it.

Shaun Alan Smith, of Glanafon, Ammanford, had previously pleaded guilty to breaching a SHPO when he appeared in the dock for sentencing. He has two previous convictions for breaching the order – in 2020 he was given a community order for possessing a mobile phone which he had not disclosed to the authorities and then in 2022 he was jailed for owning an internet-enabled PlayStation games console which he again had not declared.

The SHPO itself was imposed in December 2018 after Smith was convicted of attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity and attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming. The offending saw him sending "demanding and controlling" Facebook messages to someone he believed to be a schoolgirl and then triying to meet up with her at a local McDonald's. During their online conversations Smith told what he thought was a 14-year-old girl that he was the same age as her father and "she was the sort of girl who could get a man into trouble". He also asked her whether she had lost her virginity and whether she was wearing knickers and he asked her to send intimate photographs. Smith also talked about meeting the girl and on one occasion went to a McDonald's restaurant and told his victim he was waiting for her. In fact Smith had been conversing with a member of a so-called paedophile hunter group. Sending the defendant to prison for 15 months on that occasion the judge told him he had no doubt his aim had been to "take this girl's virginity".

Rhiannon Lee-Meredith, for Smith, said to the defendant's credit he had not sought to hide the fact he had deleted the Telegram app. She said Smith was in "extreme ill-health" with spinal issues, arthritis in his hands, heart problems, and post-traumatic stress disorder and she said he was keen to maintain his relationship with his older children and to maintain his accommodation.

Recorder David Harris told Smith that deleting the app was his third breach of the order and marked, in his view, an escalation of his breaches. He said he was not persuaded there was any basis for suspending the custodial sentence that was due.

The judge said the appropriate sentence on the guidelines after trial allowing for the aggravating and mitigating factors was 18 months in prison. With a one third discount for his guilty plea Smith was sentenced to 12 months in prison. The defendant will serve up to half that period in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community. The SHPO remains in force.

Description

AN evil thug dragged a schoolgirl into a field and repeatedly raped her as he held a screwdriver to her neck, a court heard.

Phillip Williams planned the attack which came after forcing his victim to take cocaine and alcohol.

After raping the child, the defendant - who was also armed with a length of rope - forced the muddy and half-naked girl into his car.

He took her on a lengthy journey to secluded woodlands in Port Talbot, Wales, where he beat her up and repeatedly demanded oral sex.

Sentencing Williams to 22 years in prison, followed by an eight-year licence period, a judge told him he was so deceptive and manipulative that friends and family had no idea what he was really capable of.

Swansea Crown Court heard the incident took place in the summer of last year when Williams put into action his plan to commit child rape.

The defendant forced his victim into a muddy field in the Llandovery area and beat her before stripping her, forcing her to consume alcohol and cocaine.

He tied her hands and then repeatedly raped her while holding a screwdriver to her neck.

The court heard the child was crying and resisting Williams during the ordeal and when she asked the defendant why he was doing what he was doing he replied: "Because I can."

After attacking the girl Williams – under the influence of cannabis and alcohol – took her phone and dragged her into a car taking her to woods near Margam Park.

Once in the woods he beat up the girl and again demanded oral sex, which was refused.

The court heard the girl eventually managed to retrieve her phone from Williams and flee the woods and she then called 999.

Police were soon on the scene and found the girl – muddy, half-dressed, shoeless, and in an extremely distressed state – and took her to safety.

An investigation was launched – which included looking for evidence at the site of the rapes where the child's underwear was recovered – and 48-year-old Williams was identified.

The defendant tried to evade capture but a manhunt by Dyfed-Powys Police and South Wales Police located him and he was arrested.

He denied all the allegations against him.

In a victim impact statement read to the court by barrister Helen Randall the teenager described the devastating impact of her ordeal.

She said she used to be an outgoing girl who would talk to anyone but now feels paranoid and untrusting of strangers and is constantly worrying about people's intentions.

She struggles to sleep, has lost weight, feels isolated at school, and keeps having nightmares that Williams will find her again no matter where she is.

The teenager said "it feels like he took control of my life" and "nothing will ever be the same again".

She said she feels like she wants to change her appearance, change her name, and move away to start a new life.

Judge Catherine Richards told Williams he had subjected his young victim to a "brutal" ordeal which had caused "severe psychological harm and has affected every aspect of her life".

The defendant can apply for release after serving two-thirds of the custodial element of the sentence but it will be for the Parole Board to determine if he is safe to be released and on what conditions.

Williams will be a registered sex offender for the rest of his life.

Speaking after the sentencing, Dyfed-Powys Police detective inspector Dale Thomas said the defendant had thought he could get away with his crimes.

But thanks to the bravery of the victim and the efforts of the investigating team he had been brought to justice, with the jury in the case taking just 40 minutes to reach its verdicts.

Description

Police found the defendant had downloaded 1,000 images of children being sexually abused and had joined an online dating site using a false name.

A convicted sex offender borrowed his mother's mobile to search for images of underage children after police had seized his own phone following the discovery he had been in communication with 12-year-old girls. Kris Maisey was on a suspended sentence at the time having previously been caught with a haul of child sex abuse images and was also the subject of a sexual harm prevention order designed to control is online activities.

Swansea Crown Court heard that in August last year 32-year-old Maisey was sentenced to 10 months in prison suspended for 24 months after pleading guilty to making – that is possessing – more than 1,700 indecent images of children. He was also put on the sex offenders' register for 10 years and was made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) for the same length of time.

Ian Wright, prosecuting, said in August this year police officers carrying out a routine check on Maisey in the community examined the defendant's phone and found evidence he had been communicating with two 12-year-old girls. Though the nature of the contact was not sexual the discovery raised concerns and the Samsung phone was seized for further checks.

The court heard a detailed search of the phone found around 1,000 indecent images – including Category A images which show the most serious kinds of rape and sexual abuse – and also that Maisey had joined the Tinder-style dating website Wink using a false name. As part of his SHPO the defendant is prohibited from creating social media and other online accounts using anything other than his real name.

The prosecutor said when police returned a week after the original visit to arrest Maisey for possession of the indecent images they found him using a phone he had not told them about, a mobile which it turned out he had borrowed from his mother. An examination of this second phone found the defendant had been making internet searches for material about underage girls. He subsequently gave a "no comment" interview to officers

Kris Maisey, of Norton Road, Penygroes, Cross Hands, Carmarthenshire, had previously pleaded guilty to three counts of possession of indecent images and two counts of breaching a sexual harm prevention order when he appeared in the dock for sentencing. Matt Murphy, for Maisey, said while being held on remand awaiting sentence his client had used his time productively and was taking qualifications and educational courses, and had also established a "society" in prison. Though the advocate did not give details of the nature of the group he stressed it was unconnected with the offences before the court.

Judge Paul Thomas KC told Maisey that in August last year a judge had given him a chance, but instead of taking that chance he had continued to access images of child sex abuse and had "blatantly" breached the terms of his sexual harm prevention order. With a 20% discount for his guilty pleas Maisey was sentenced to 20 months in prison for the new offences and the judge activated eight months of the previously-imposed suspended sentence to run consecutively making an overall sentence of 28 months. He will serve up to half that period in custody before being released on licence. The judge also made Maisey subject of a new 10-year SHPO.

Description

A MAN who recorded himself raping a sleeping woman has been sentenced to ten years in prison.

Cameron Hassan changed his plea to guilty on the second day of his trial after the jury had watched the horrific footage.

Hassan recorded his victims private parts before recording himself anally raping her, coupled with a running commentary of insults and foul language.

The rape, which took place in Ammanford on August 21, 2021, had been recorded on his victims phone.

The court heard that in police interview after his arrest Hassan claimed that the sex had been part of a role play and that his victim wasnt sleeping at the time.

However, Hassan, 32, of no fixed abode, changed his plea before his victim had to take to the witness stand last May.

His Honour Judge Geraint Walters heard that Hassan had a lengthy antecedent history and had appeared in court 39 times in relation to 92 criminal offences.

Although none of these involved sexual offences some of the charges had involved violence and threats of violence towards women.

In a victim impact statement read out to the court Hassans victim said that she had difficulty sleeping, waking up in the night sweating and having disturbing dreams.

She was depressed and had been prescribed medication for this. The attack had caused massive trust issues and she had become distant from friends.

She didnt want to see anybody and didnt trust people. She was worried about the effect of the attack on future relationships and had difficulty with intimacy, feeling uneasy if somebody tried to hug her.

She added that the trial had caused her months of distress.

I wish that he had pleaded guilty from the start, she said.

I have had ten months of hell worried that I would have to talk about what happened in a court full of people. I have been physically unwell with worry.

In mitigation the court heard that Hassan had expressed remorse for what he had done and was disgusted about his behaviour and the hurt that was caused.

The court also heard that Hassan had indicated that he would engage with the support available in prison.

At the moment at least you have no respect for women, said judge Walters.

It is hard to imagine an act of greater degradation to a woman than that which I both saw and heard on that film.

Hassan was sentenced to ten years in prison for the rape offence at Swansea Crown Court on, Thursday, June 23. The court heard that he will serve three quarters of his sentence.

He was also sentenced to three months in prison, to run concurrently, for the offence of sending a threatening message. The court heard that he had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity to this offence, which involved a different victim.

Senior Investigating Officer DI Melanie Havard said the victim had shown great strength and determination throughout the investigation and trial.

I must commend her tremendous courage in coming forward and the tenacity shown throughout the investigation, she said.

We appreciate this is not easy for anyone to do but the victim has expressed her gratitude to the officer in the case for her support and empathy throughout this process.

We hope this case demonstrates that Dyfed-Powys Police acts on serious allegations such as rape and sexual assault with officers working tirelessly to secure justice for victims.

If you are suffering because of similar abuse, please contact the police, or if you would rather speak to someone in confidence, New Pathways are an independent charity that will support you through every step of the investigation.

Description

James Thomas was convicted of 21 counts of rape of a girl under 13, sexual assault, and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

A man who spent years sexually abused two young vulnerable girls has been made the subject of an extended sentence as a dangerous offender. James Thomas carried out a prolonged "campaign of rape" against one young girl and sexually assaulted another over a six-year period. The abuse started when one of the victims was aged just five.

Thomas, aged 42, denied a total of 21 offences including oral, anal, and vaginal rape but was convicted following a trial at Swansea Crown Court. The court heard victim statements from the two young girls he abused in which they detailed the psychological impact the sexual offending has had on their lives including feeling scared around men, feeling isolated, suffering with nightmares and flashbacks, and resorting to self-harming to mask the emotional pain. As victims of sexual offences the females have lifelong legal anonymity.

James Thomas, of Mansel Street, Carmarthen, had previously been convicted of nine counts of rape of a child under 13, two of inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, and 10 of sexual assault of a child under 13 at trial in March when he returned to the dock for sentencing on Monday. He has no previous convictions.

Ian Ibrahim, for Thomas, said the dad-of-two faced a sentence that would change his life forever. He said the defendant had always worked hard, mainly in the car industry, to provide for his family and in recent years had experienced the deaths of both parents.

Judge Catherine Richards told Thomas he had targeted and manipulated two young and vulnerable girls and subjected one to what could properly be called a "campaign of rape". She said having heard all the evidence in the case and having read a pre-sentence report on the defendant she was satisfied that he posed a significant risk of committing further sexual offences against young girls and that an extended sentence was necessary to protect the public.

Thomas was given a 24-year extended sentence comprising 22 years in custody followed by a two-year licence period. He must serve two-thirds of the custodial element of the sentence before he can apply for release but it will be for the Parole Board to determine if he is safe to be returned to the community. He will be a registered sex offender for the rest of his life.

Speaking after the sentencing Mandy Tobias, district crown prosecutor with the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "Rape is a harrowing crime that has a devastating effect on the victim. Thomas repeatedly abused two children to satisfy his own desires and now he will answer for his crimes thanks to the courage the children have shown in speaking out."

Description

Osian Winters - now known as Mark Williams - has a long history of sexual offending which includes pleasuring himself while looking at mannequins in a shop window.

A sex offender with a mannequin fetish openly masturbated on a train in front of passengers including a young schoolgirl.

The child was so disgusted by what was happening she took a photo on her phone of the man and then alerted the guard.

Mark Williams - who has changed his name from Osian Winters since his last conviction - later claimed he had in fact been performing the sex act on a sex toy which he had found in a pub. The defendant was found in possession of such an item but the court heard "the colour and shape" of it did not match what was shown in the snap taken by the girl.

Williams a long history of sexual offences involving children, and of committing sex acts in public - including masturbating while looking at mannequins in shop windows - and he has repeatedly breached court orders designed to try to curb his deviant behaviour.

The 28-year-old claims he is addicted to masturbating.

Swansea Crown Court heard the defendant's most recent offending happened on a train between Carmarthen and Whitland in December last year.

Jim Davis, prosecuting, said the defendant was seen "masturbating in clear view of everybody in the carriage", including a young girl who was sat nearby. He said the youngster was able to take a photograph of the incident and when the train arrived in Whitland and Williams got off, she reported the matter to the train manager.

Police were contacted, and though Williams was wearing a Covid face mask and a baseball cap he was recognised on CCTV footage by a police officer who knows him. The court heard the girl who who reported the incident later told police she had been "disgusted" by what she had witnessed.

The prosecutor said the defendant was arrested on December 21 and in his subsequent interview denied the offence, telling officers "he had been masturbating a dildo he found in a public house". Mr Davis said Williams was found to own such an item but it was "different in colour and shape" from what was captured in the photograph taken on the train.

Mark Williams, of Lammas Steet, Carmarthen, had previously pleaded guilty to outraging public decency when he appeared in the dock for sentencing. He has 13 previous convictions for 26 offences, some 15 of which are of a sexual nature.

In 2016 he was made the subject of sexual harm prevention order after being convicted of six counts of causing or inciting a girl under 16 to engage in sexual activity and two counts of possessing indecent images. These offences related to extensive and sexually explicit online Skype chats he had with a 15-year-old girl.

In September 2018 he was given a community order after being caught on CCTV pleasuring himself while looking at mannequins in the window of Topshop in Carmarthen town centre. On that occasion the judge told the defendant he should aim to establish an appropriate adult relationship with a partner rather than "walking around the centre of town in the dead of night being excited by mannequins".

Description

A pervert from Llandovery has appeared for sentence at Swansea Crown Court after admitting to making and distributing indecent images of children.
Rhys Long, of Cynghordy, Llandovery, had previously indicated a guilty plea.

The 19-year-old admitted making almost 200 images with 40 of them falling into Category A the most extreme category showing the rape or torture of young children
25 extreme pornographic images depicting bestiality were also found.

Long also admitted distributing the above images to other like minded perverts online.

Allegations of child grooming were also made by several young victims. However, no charges were made.

Long was not jailed but instead received a suspended sentence.

A sexual harm prevention order was put in place and he was told to register as a sex offender immediately.

2022 Update

Rhys Long, 22, of Cynghordy, Llandovery, is due to by sentenced by Swansea Crown Court next month for breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

Long was made subject to a sexual harm prevention order on May 21, 2021, and appeared at Llanelli Magistrates Court on August 25 where he pleaded guilty to breaching the order.

The breach occurred on May 11 this year when he failed to inform police officers that he had created a username on Discord and had an unregistered email address.

He will be sentenced by Swansea Crown Court who made the initial order on 8 September 2022.

Description

Michael Powell also downloaded so-called "paedophile manuals" from the web containing illustrated guides on how obtain, hide, and sexually abuse young children

A former worker at a Welsh college has been revealed as a "committed paedophile" who downloaded sickening images of children and babies being sexually abused.

Some of the youngsters being sexually tortured for Michael Ian Powell's perverted pleasure were as young as just one month old, a court heard.

Former Llandovery College staff member Powell also downloaded so-called "paedophile manuals" from the dark web containing instructions on how to sexually abuse children.

Swansea Crown Court heard 59-year-old Powell was arrested after police raided his home shortly before 8am on October 24 last year.

Sophie Hill, prosecuting, said officers seized a number of electronic devices, and on them found almost 3,500 indecent pictures of videos of children from categories A - the most extreme kind - B and C.

Police also found Powell had downloaded so-called "paedophile manuals" from the internet - one was a guide on how to "obtain and hide a little girl for the purposes of exploitation", and one was an illustrated guide on how to sexually abuse girls aged between three and six.

Further examination of the devices found Powell had also taken part in sick online group chats, and shared an image of a child being abused with other paedophiles.

The prosecutor said the defendant, who has two grown-up children, made "full and frank admissions" to officers about what he had been doing.

Powell, of High Street, Llandovery, Carmarthenshire, had previously pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing indecent images of children, one of distributing an indecent category A image, and one of possessing a paedophile manual, a relatively new offence created under the Serious Crime Act 2015.

He has no previous convictions.

Tom Scapens, for Powell, said unlike many other offenders who came before the courts for similar offending, Powell had been "refreshingly honest" in interviews with police and probation officers about gaining sexual gratification from viewing the indecent images, and the need to get help.

He said the defendant had been working in the alumni department of Llandovery College until his arrest, though had now lost that employment.

The barrister added that though Powell had been divorced from his wife for many years she had attended court - though not come into the courtroom itself - to support her former husband in a "personal capacity" in what he described as a demonstration of "remarkable generosity of spirit".

Judge Geraint Walters described the images Powell had downloaded as "unspeakably appalling", and said they were "amongst the most disturbing I have personally had to deal with".

He said: "How a father of two children can possibly not see the damage which looking at images like these causes children is something I find hard to fathom.

"You were committed to viewing for sexual pleasure other people's children being gravely sexually abused.

"You can properly be described as a committed paedophile. The reality is you are going to have to battle that condition for the rest of your life."

Giving the defendant the required one-third discount for his guilty pleas the judge sentenced him to a total of two years in prison. Powell will serve up to a half of that period in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community.

The defendant will be a registered sex offender for the next 10 years and was made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order for the same length of time to control his access to the internet.