Locations
Brunswood Green, Hawarden, Deeside, Flintshire, CH5
Description
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.