Latest Offenders Flint

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A man has been jailed for 16 years after committing serious sexual offences against a woman in Flintshire.

Dumitru-Robert Lactus, 27, of Welsh Road, Garden City, appeared at Mold Crown Court today, Monday 29 September, after being found guilty of multiple offences including rape, assault causing physical harm, intentional suffocation and threats to kill.

He was jailed for 16 years.

He was also handed a restraining order to protect the victim lasting indefinitely and he must register as a sex offender with police indefinitely.

Detective Constable Gareth Bostock said:

“Lactus subjected his victim to shocking and violent behaviour that will stay with her forever.

“I commend her courage in coming forward and reporting these horrific offences as well as her bravery throughout the judicial process.

“We will do everything in our power to bring those who inflict sexual harm to justice.

“We take every report of violence against women incredibly seriously and urge anyone who has experienced such behaviour to get in touch with us. You will be listened to and supported.”

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A convicted rapist buried his head in his hands upon learning he would spend many years in prison.

Dumitru-Robert Lacatus, 27, of Welsh Road in Garden City, appeared via video link from HMP Berwyn at Mold Crown Court for sentencing on Monday.

He was found guilty after trial on 12 counts: rape (x2), assault (x3), assault occasioning actual bodily harm (x2), making a threat to kill (x1), suffocation (x1), making a threat with a large blade (machete) (x1), and assault by beating (x2).

Defense counsel Simeon Evans told the court:

"Mr Lacatus continues to deny the offences.

"There is little I can say regarding his response which can assist him in shortening the sentence.

"It is the length of the sentence which will be his major concern.

"He is still a relatively young man and he has some English but it's very limited.

"That makes his time in custody much more challenging."

Judge Rhys Rowlands addressed Lacatus:

"You were convicted by the jury of 12 counts charging serious sexual, violent offending.

"What is clear is that you have no remorse whatsoever for what you did and no insight into the undoubtedly serious harm you caused."

The judge described the offending as "at times, very depraved," adding: "I am keenly aware that you are now going to spend a long time in prison, a long way from your family in Romania.

"It won't be easy for you but a sentence of immediate imprisonment, as has been conceded, is quite inevitable."

Lacatus received a 16-year prison sentence, after which he placed his face in his hands and sighed audibly.

He is subject to a restraining order protecting the victim and must register as a sex offender indefinitely.

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A 28-year-old man has today been jailed after violently raping and assaulting a woman.

Reece Wynne, of Greenbank Lane, Soughton, appeared at Mold Crown Court on Tuesday, 16 September, after admitting to offences of rape and assault causing physical harm.

Wynne attacked and raped the woman at a holiday lodge in Caerwys.

He also failed to comply with sex offender notification requirements he had previously been made subject of in 2017.

He was jailed for eight years and one month.

He was also made subject of a restraining order protecting the victim indefinitely and must register with police indefinitely. 

Detective Constable Jessica Rowley said:

“This was a truly horrifying experience that will stay with the victim for a long time.

“I commend her bravery to seek support and report Wynne’s actions which has resulted in his conviction.

“We will do everything in our power to bring those who inflict sexual harm to justice.

“I understand that reporting sexual assault can be incredibly difficult. However, I would reassure any victim that we will listen, take your report seriously and fully investigate. We are here to support you.”

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A sex offender who made indecent pictures of children and installed illegal software was today told by a judge "boredom and loneliness" was no excuse for his "depraved" behaviour.

Christopher Daniels, 51, of Alyn Road, Buckley, admitted making the images of children - including a baby girl. The pictures were in the most serious category A as well as categories B and C.

Mold Crown Court heard Daniels had been given a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) for ten years in January 2017. Terms prohibited him from file sharing or using anonymity software on any device capable of accessing the internet.

However, on November 3, 2022 police searched his home and he was arrested on suspicion of making indecent images of children. Officers examined devices and found 147 indecent images in category A, 74 indecent images and one moving film both in category B, and 113 category C indecent images.

Images of boys and girls aged about four to 12 were on a Samsung phone with a protected PIN. His laptop had FrostWire peer-to-peer software - in breach of his SHPO.

Prosecutor Dafydd Roberts said one image showed someone committing an indecent act on a baby girl. A man committed an intimate act on another girl aged four to six in another image, the court heard.

Myles Wilson, defending, said a psychologist found Daniels has "unresolved, personal trauma" from childhood and adulthood. He is a "particularly anxious individual".

He doesn't work and feels targeted by locals. He has little support from family or friends and feels isolated, he added. But Mr Wilson suggested Daniels could be rehabilitated.

However, the judge His Honour Rhys Rowlands told the defendant: "I'm afraid it's abundantly clear to me you have no interest in complying with the terms of the sexual harm prevention order.

"The purpose and terms (of a SHPO) are important tools to ensure there is no repetition of the unnatural and worrying behaviour on your part." The judge said that there had been some sophistication in storing images during his "depraved" behaviour.

He added: "Obsessive behaviour born out of boredom and loneliness is understandable (but) I fail to see how this explains let alone excuses your deliberate and repeated accessing images of young children seemingly whilst affected by drink."

Nor does it excuse a deliberate breach of a court order - an order which would have been explained to him repeatedly, he said. For making indecent images in category A Daniels was jailed for 12 months with no separate penalties for the category B and C offences.

He was also given six months in jail, to run consecutively, for breaching the SHPO, making a total of 18 months imprisonment.

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A Flintshire man has been jailed for 16 years for sexually assaulting three girls.

Adam Griffiths, of no fixed abode, carried out the offences over a seven-year period.

Appearing at Mold Crown Court today, Monday, February 17th, he was jailed after being found guilty by a jury at Mold Crown Court in January.

He was handed three consecutive sentences totalling 16 years in prison, as well as a year of additional licence.

He will be registered as a sex offender indefinitely and was issued restraining orders to protect the victims and their families for the next 10 years.

He was also made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order.

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A high-risk sex offender has been locked up for his behaviour to a woman in the street.

Anthony Hooper, of Knights Green in Flint, appeared at Wrexham Magistrates Court for sentence on Wednesday afternoon.

The 69-year-old had been convicted after trial of sexual assault, as well as breaching a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO), both of which happened in 2024 in Flint.

Prosecutor Justin Espie told the court: "The defendant is known to be a high-risk registered sex offender with a number of previous convictions and the subject of a sexual harm prevention order."

The SHPO prohibited him from speaking to any female of any age in a manner that a reasonable person would believe to be sexual - unless that person expressly consented to being spoken to in that way.

On the day in question, Hooper touched his victim in the street, making her feel extremely uncomfortable, as well as making unusual comments.

At that stage, she was unaware Hooper was a registered sex offender.

Mr Espie said his behaviour during the offences was "concerning" and "sexualised."

In her victim personal statement, the woman said Hooper's behaviour had made her angry, adding: "Nothing about this is my fault.

"I'm very concerned about bumping into him."

She added the incident had caused her a great deal of anxiety.

Gary Harvey, defending, told the court: "The pre-sentence report doesn't do him any favours.

"I don't try to suggest there's a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.

"He had the trial and was convicted - I can't go behind that."

Mr Harvey conceded Hooper's actions had amounted to a deliberate breach of his SHPO.

District Judge Gwyn Jones told the defendant: "Mr Hooper, the sexual assault had a significant impact on the victim.

"And your sexual behaviour made the victim feel extremely uneasy.

"You do not wish to take any responsibility for your actions and don't want to address any matters.

"On that basis, and in view of your record of offending, I'm satisfied that the risk you pose to females is such that there's only one sentence - one of immediate custody."

Hooper was jailed for 52 weeks in total and must pay a £187 victim surcharge.

A six-year restraining order was imposed for the victim's protection.

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A MAN has been jailed for numerous serious sexual offences against children in Flintshire.

Ryan Russell, of no fixed abode, appeared before Mold Crown Court for sentencing on Tuesday (November 26).

The 25-year-old had previously admitted two counts of raping a girl under 13, two counts of engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a girl under 13, four counts of engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a girl aged 13-15 and inciting a girl aged 13-15 to engage in sexual activity.

He had also admitted making indecent images of children, and possessing an extreme pornographic image portraying intercourse with an animal.

Prosecuting, Myles Wilson said the defendant had sex with the victim on four occasions last year, twice before she turned 13 and twice afterwards. Russell had met the victim on Snapchat. 

The offences, which occurred on each occasion in areas of Flintshire during the early hours, involved unprotected sex – despite the victim asking the defendant to wear protection.

The offences came to light after the victim's mother found her bed empty during the early hours of the morning. She came across the defendant and asked if he'd seen her daughter. Russell denied it, but, suspicious, of him, the victim's mother recorded his vehicle registration plate - which was subsequently used by police to link Russell to the offences. 

Once arrested, the court heard that the special software used to analyse the defendant’s phone found it to have contained over 300 indecent images of children. One of the 200 images in the most serious category involved a toddler, and extreme pornographic images involving a woman and a dog.

The victim's mother read out a victim personal statement in court. She said: "The shock and disbelief that someone could do this to an innocent child has been in our family every day. Since he did what he did, it's changed my daughter's life forever - her innocence has been taken away. 

"I will never forgive you for what you have done to my daughter. My anxiety is unbearable and I'm constantly living in fear." 

Defending, Maria Masselis said that the victim had told the defendant that she was aged 15 – and that her mother said she looked about that age. She said that Russell had an "unsettled" upbringing, and that he has a diagnosis of neurodivergence which makes making relationships with people of his age difficult.

Miss Masselis added that he was of previous good character, having no previous convictions. 

Judge Niclas Parry told Russell: "You showed a total disregard for the welfare safety and dignity of female children, all so you could satisfy your sexual urges."

He sentenced Russell to nine years imprisonment - eight of which will be served in custody, and the remainder supervised licence.

The defendant will be placed on the sexual offender's register indefinitely. Russell will also be made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, and a restraining order against the victim for an indefinite period. 

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Ben Franklin said: “Although today’s sentence will not take away the harm and distress caused to the victim and her family, I hope it will provide some comfort knowing nobody else can now come to harm.

“I would also like to applaud her for her courage in reporting such serious offences, and for her bravery throughout the investigation.

“I hope this encourages other victims and gives them confidence that North Wales will endeavour to investigate violence against women and girls and bring offenders to justice.”

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A MAN has been jailed after having sex with a young girl, having lied to her about his age.

Luke Gillard, of Cornist Lane in Flint, appeared for sentence at Mold Crown Court on Wednesday.

The 20-year-old, who appeared via video from HMP Berwyn, had previously admitted two offences of penetrative sexual activity with a child and one of sexual activity with a child.

Anna Price, prosecuting, told the court Gillard's offending involved him having sex with, and sexually touching, a young girl - having known her age and lied about his own to make himself appear younger than he was.

When interviewed by the police, the defendant relied on a prepared statement in which he denied any sexual contact with the girl and stating he had autism and ADHD.

But he went on to admit the offences at his plea and trial preparation hearing.

In a statement read to the court, the victim said the offences had a big impact on her emotions and quality of life.

"Sometimes I'd blame myself for what happened," she said.

"It would keep me up at night."

Ryan Rothwell, defending, asked the court to give his client appropriate reductions in the sentence bearing in mind his relative youth.

He added: "Clearly, not only does he have psychiatric issues which are labelled, he lacks a significant amount of maturity.

"There are well-founded suspicions of autism and a diagnosis of ADHD."

He said there were concerns about his client's ability to cope in a custodial setting, adding: "It seems the pre-sentence report alludes to potential issues in that respect.

"He's already received abuse in the prison.

"There has been a delay in bringing this matter to court and he had no convictions prior to these offences.

"He has written a letter in which he tried to express an acknowledgement of how [the victim] must feel and elaborates how sorry he is."

Judge Niclas Parry told the defendant: "You understand you're to be sentenced for extremely serious matters.

"It's a significant disparity in age - and you lied about your age, which underlines the fact you knew exactly what you were doing."

Judge Parry told the court that based on expert psychiatric reports, he did not feel the defendant's psychiatric issues had influenced his understanding of the illegality of his behaviour, and would have had a limited bearing on his decision-making.

As such, the Judge handed down an overall sentence of 27 months to be served immediately, in a young offenders' institute.

A restraining order and sexual harm prevention order were imposed for 10 years.

And Gillard was made subject to the notification requirements as a sex offender for the same period of time.

Judge Parry turned to the public gallery at the end, where the victim and her family were present, and stated: "Thank you for the dignity you have shown."

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A MOLD sex-offender who was caught once again with indecent images of children has been put behind bars.

Fiontan Greaney, of Bryn Heulog, appeared at Mold Crown Court on Tuesday for sentence.

The 35-year-old had previously admitted three offences of making indecent images of children; one each at categories A, B and C.

Karl Scholz, prosecuting, told the court that in February 2019, Greaney was sentenced for offences of the same nature and received a three-year community order.

However in November 2022, police conducted an unannounced home visit at Greaney's home and examined his devices.

Initial checks turned up filenames of concern, which led to the seizure of his computer and hard drives.

A forensic examination of the items revealed two still images at category A (the most serious), two images and three videos at category C and 313 images and six videos at category C.

Some 844 images indicative of a sexual interest in children were also found.

When Greaney was arrested in September last year, he protested his innocence and denied having been in possession, or having downloaded, any such images.

Trevor Parry Jones, defending, told the court: "Mr Greaney presents as an unusual character.

"He's one of those classic children who, whilst in the school system, required assistance.

"His mother is sitting in the court and she's understandably distraught.

"She believes, albeit he's never been formally diagnosed, he suffered ADHD.

"The only way she can put it is 'he is definitely on the spectrum' whatever that may mean."

Mr Parry Jones said his client also suffered mobility issues due to a muscular-skeletal problem.

"He keeps explaining he wishes to stop doing what he is doing because it's causing harm and upset to others," he continued.

"His mother told me there are positive steps he is taking and she believed he is beginning to understand the nuances of what he must do and not do."

He added that while his client had been attempting to set up a business and at the time of the hearing had the use of a smartphone and laptop, discussions had taken place about whether

Greaney should be completely deprived of the internet.

Judge Rhys Rowlands told the defendant: "At this court in 2019, you were made the subject of a community order. Attached were rehabilitation and programme requirements meant to address the risk you pose to young children.

"Sadly, you're now back before this court for three more offences.

"The pre-sentence report makes depressing reading.

"You continue to deny having any sexual interest in children.

"In view of your past offending, your continuing to offend whilst subject to a previous order and a clear lack of insight, I'm afraid I am driven to the view that adequate punishment can't be achieved in the community."

Overall, Greaney received a custodial sentence of 32 weeks.

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

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A "TRULY depraved" teenager whose attitude to sex has been "warped" by access to graphic pornography has been jailed for his behaviour towards two young girls. 

Nathan Mainwaring, of Llys Maes Teg in Greenfield, appeared at Mold Crown Court for sentence on Tuesday morning.

The 18-year-old, who appeared via video link from HMP Berwyn, had admitted a number of offences at a previous hearing, including: causing/inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, sending threatening communication, making indecent images of a child, sexual exploitation of a child and make/supply article intended for use in commission of computer misuse offence.

Frances Wilmott, prosecuting, told the court the majority of Mainwaring's offending related to his behaviour towards two female children he spoke to online when he was aged 16 and 17.

In both cases, the communication was highly sexualised and graphic - with Mainwaring making degrading remarks and instructing the girls to commit sex acts.

However in the case of the second victim, it was said Mainwaring had admitted his guilt on the basis he had believed she was older than she was - which was accepted by the court.

In interview Mainwaring denied he had a sexual interest in children.

When his computer was examined, it became apparent by the programmes he had that the defendant had also been seeking to access stolen credit card details, as well as stealing passwords and hacking into other computers.

He told police he was "knowledgeable about computing" and that he'd only acquired the programmes as he was "interested in learning," but that over time he'd begun to use them.

Myles Wilson, defending, told the court: "The pre-sentence report assessed him as 'immature' and he is only 18 - but he seems especially immature.

"He's learned about sex, it seems, from the internet. He's a part of this generation which has been exposed to and has had access to eye-wateringly graphic pornography that has never been available so easily before.

"It will have warped his attitude to sex."

Mr Wilson said in some instances, the conversation on the part of both defendant and victim had been "very peculiar."

And he shared his concern that the two children became victims around a year apart - as there was a delay in bringing his client to court.

He said: "In an ideal world, he'd have never got around to committing the offences against [the second victim] over a year after he made admissions to the police about [the first victim].

"Ideally he'd have been getting rehabilitation rather than being on police bail and committing these further offences."

Judge Rhys Rowlands said Mainwaring's behaviour was "really worrying," and "beggars belief."

He told the defendant: "This is all part and parcel of an inadequate young man seeking to exercise a degree of power and control over others.

"Although you were, and remain, a young man - it's plain you were very far from functioning as one would imagine an innocent 16-year-old to behave.

"You were behaving as a sexual predator, displaying a degree of sophistication far beyond your chronological years. It is truly depraved behaviour.

"It has taken the police and CPS far too long to bring the sexual offences to court.

"The impact on the two victims has been profound."

Overall, Mainwaring was handed a 42-month term of detention in a young offenders institute.

He was made subject to a ten year sexual harm prevention order to monitor and control his use of the internet, as well as having to register as a sex offender.

A ten year restraining order was also imposed to protect the victims.

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A FLINTSHIRE man has been locked up after 'reverting to his old ways' and attempting to exchange sexual messages with someone he believed to be a child.

Andrew Lloyd, of Chester Road in Northop Hall, appeared at Mold Crown Court for sentence on Tuesday morning.

The 39-year-old had previously admitted an offence of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child under 16, which took place over a period of around two weeks in October and November this year.

Karl Scholz, prosecuting, told the court the offence also put Lloyd in breach of a ten year sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) in two ways - his attempted communication with a child and his use of social networking sites without notifying police beforehand.

Lloyd made contact with a profile online which had a photo of a young girl.

Within half an hour of the 'girl' telling him she was 12 years of age, Lloyd had sent her a photo of his exposed genitals.

Fortunately, the account was a decoy under the control of a group working to identify sexual predators online.

The chat moved onto Whatsapp, where he repeatedly spoke about his genitals and asked for photos of the girl.

The vigilante group attended the address where Lloyd was staying - after he'd revealed his location in the chats - and he was arrested shortly after.

Mr Scholz told the court the defendant received a custodial sentence of two years in September 2021 for similar offences, which is when his ten year SHPO was imposed.

In interview, Lloyd accepted he was the person in the chat and apologised for his actions.

He claimed he had been "working well with probation" following his 2021 offences, but that he'd returned to using drugs and experienced a decline in his mental health following issues at his accommodation.

Elen Owen, defending told the court: "Mr Lloyd doesn't want me to make any excuses.

"He had initially been working with probation and was receiving a great deal of support, but unfortunately he was put in a bedsit with someone who made threats on his life in prison.

"That made his life extremely difficult and he was very frightened - leading to his reverting back to his old ways of taking cocaine.

"Under the totally disinhibiting effect of the drug, he went back to behaving in this manner.

"He hopes whilst in prison to access help with substance abuse."

Judge Niclas Parry told Lloyd: "Within half an hour of finding out, as you believed, you were talking to a 12-year-old girl you were sending an image of your genitalia.

"Hundreds of messages followed and you encouraged her to send sexual images to you.

"Mercifully, there was no child."

Judge Parry jailed the defendant for two-and-a-half years and extended his SHPO, as well as his requirements under the notification provisions, to last indefinitely.

"That is hanging over you forever," he added.

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A former footballer raped a sixth-form student while she slept. Terry Nicholas met the girl, who was then aged 17, while drinking at a pub before they went back to his house with a group of other people.

The 36-year-old waited until the teenager, who was "completely out of it" went to bed at the property. He told the others he was "just going to the toilet", snuck into the bedroom and began assaulting her as she slept.

His victim woke up during the attack and pushed him away. He then told her and another woman to leave the house.

North Wales Live reported that Nicholas, of Jubilee Road in Buckley, was jailed for eight and a half years after a jury found him guilty of the attack which took place in his home in the summer of 2021.

The court had heard Nicholas had bought cocaine as he was a "casual user" of the drug, the court heard, and the judge believed that having sex with the woman was his "clear intention" that night.

Prosecutor Siôn ap Mihangel told the court, through a victim impact statement, that young woman felt "constant uneasiness" around men since the traumatic ordeal and dreaded going to sleep due to "night terrors" and having the feeling that "someone was back on top of her". She endured a "depressive episode" and "struggled with self-worth" following the attack.

Defending, Martyn Walsh, said his client had a "reasonable career" playing football for local teams. He stressed Nicholas had "no offences of a sexual nature on his record".

However, the judge Simon Mills felt that there was some "concerning" sides to the defendant identified through a pre-sentence report for the courts. Judge Mills said the 36-year-old's attitude was "misogynistic" when he claimed he "didn't need to commit sexual offences" to sleep with women.

The judge went on to lock Nicholas up for eight-and-a-half years, listing him as a sex offender for life. He said: "You raped her and treated her with contempt. And in effect, that's what you've done ever since.

"You've not shown a shred of remorse, let alone recognition, for what you did. You provided misogynistic views verging on an attitude you could not care less about what you're facing. I urge you to take a long, hard look at yourself, the way you act, the way you treat women and the way you think."

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A teenager tried to take her own life after being sexually assaulted by an older man. Simon Barlow, 39, also breached a restraining order against another woman and sent her a threatening text.

A judge at Mold Crown Court today jailed Barlow for a total of 24 months. Prosecutor Alexandra Carrier told how Barlow, of Connah's Quay, had sexually assaulted the teenager, who was over the age of 16. The touching was sexual and over her clothing.

In a victim statement the teen victim said the sexual assault has "opened her eyes to the real world" and made her feel very low. She has tried to take her own life due to this incident "and other concerns".

For her part the woman said in a statement she had had panic attacks and flashbacks and is always looking over her shoulder.

Dafydd Roberts, defending, said his client has had drink and drug problems. The court heard he had drunk vodka, Bailey's and taken cocaine on the day of the sexual assault. He is now thinking more clearly on remand and is "outraged" about his behaviour, added defence counsel.

The judge His Honour Rhys Rowlands jailed Barlow for 14 months for the sexual assault on a female and for ten months, consecutively, for breaching a restraining order. There was no separate penalty for sending the threatening communication.

But he also imposed a five-year restraining order prohibiting Barlow from contacting either victim and pointed out he must keep to sex offender notification requirements for ten years.

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A FLINT man has been branded a sex offender and put behind bars after asking a young girl for sexual pictures of herself.

Ben Gleeson, of Bryn Derw in Flint, appeared at Mold Crown Court for sentence on Monday via video link from HMP Berwyn.

The 36-year-old had been convicted at a previous hearing of engaging in sexual communication with a child.

John Wyn Williams, prosecuting, told the court that the victim had been contacted by Gleeson via social media.

She became upset and spoke to her mother after the defendant made sexualised comments and asked her to send him indecent images of herself.

The messages were reported to the police and when he was arrested, Gleeson made no comment.

Mold Crown Court heard how Gleeson initially pleaded not guilty, but then changed his plea on the day of trial.

He then tried to 'play the system' - postponing the sentencing date by several weeks by having a further change of heart and claiming he was innocent, telling the author of his pre-sentence report as such, and that he intended to apply to vacate his guilty plea.

However, the application wasn't made and according to Max Saffman, defending, Gleeson had finally accepted his guilt.

Mr Saffman told the court: "It was a slightly different Mr Gleeson who was in denial when the pre-sentence report was prepared.

"Alcohol has been at the root of all of his offending including the vast majority of his previous convictions.

"It's something he has struggled with for the entirety of his adult life.

"But he's been in custody for four weeks now and he sees things clearer."

Mr Saffman urged the court to step back from immediate custody, explaining his client wished to use the month he'd already served as a "platform" to "move on from."

He suggested there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation, and that impositions by the court such as a restraining order and notification requirements would safeguard the victim and wider public.

But Judge Rhys Rowlands disagreed, telling Gleeson: "I've read your pre-sentence report, and I'm bound to say it makes depressing reading.

"Despite what Mr Saffman says about you having some insight, I see that with some scepticism.

"I can't ignore the way you have tried to play the system; entering not guilty pleas, changing your mind at the last moment and thereafter blaming your solicitor and saying you weren't guilty, all of which shows precious little remorse on your part."

The Judge said Gleeson's crimes were too serious for anything other than an immediate custodial sentence, jailing him for 10 months.

Gleeson was also sentenced for two other offences - criminal damage and common assault - both of which received no separate penalty given the sexual communication was taken as the lead offence.

He must sign on as a sex offender for 10 years. A restraining order was put in place for five years to protect the victim.

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A paedophile ex-vicar with a sexual interest in boys was jailed today for sharing sick images of children from a Twitter account.

Jason Kennett-Orpwood, of Brunswood Green in Hawarden, Flintshire, who has previous convictions for sharing vile abuse images, had 11 pictures and 18 videos in the worst category of seriousness and dozens of other photographs and videos on his phone.

North Wales Police were alerted in May last year that a Twitter (X) account linked to the married vicar had uploaded illegal images, Caernarfon Crown Court heard today.

Prosecutor Richard Edwards said the images were shared with other social media users, including on the Telegram platform. There were sexually explicit online chats seemingly with boys as young as 13, Mr Edwards added.

Kennett-Orpwood told police he was sexually interested in boys over 12 and knew it was wrong. Sarah Yates, defending, said he had cooperated with the investigation and had never been to jail before and had an elderly father who was unwell.

The court heard that the 68-year-old was already a convicted sex offender, having received a community order in November 2015 for sharing vile child sex images. In 2000, he was also cautioned for making indecent images.

Judge Timothy Petts told the disgraced former Flintshire vicar: The phrase indecent images can often be used without really thinking what that means. These are illegal images of child abuse and those like you who possess, share and distribute such images are part of a cycle that perpetuates the abuse of children.

"Those who have been abused are always subject to the knowledge their images are out there circulating indefinitely with absolutely nothing they can do. Thats part of their trauma.

Judge Petts said Kennett-Orpwood was part of a paedophile discussion group on social media, adding that it was cleat he had a "long-standing interest in this sort of activity.

Its clear you have a long-standing interest in this sort of activity, the judge added. The previous conviction hadnt deterred him. It has to be an immediate prison sentence, Judge Petts said.

Kennett-Orpwood admitted 10 offences of attempted sexual communication with children, attempted incitement of sexual activity and child porn charges including distribution.

He must register as a sex offender for life and a sexual harm prevention order was made for 15 years.