Latest Offenders Tywyn

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Police have been given more power to monitor a sex offender's internet use.

Caernarfon Magistrates heard it was "imperative" to protect the public.

Geraint Rowlands, 61, of Cleveland Avenue, Tywyn, had already been convicted of possessing indecent images in 2017 and received a ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

But today he pleaded guilty at Caernarfon Magistrates Court to breaching that order after showing an interest in six apps and websites. These were Chaturbate, Google Hangouts, MeWe, Trillian, Flickr and Discord between March 2, 2020 and June 18, 2021.

Police lawyer Gareth Preston then applied to the bench for the SHPO to be varied so police could add risk management monitoring software to his devices, if they wish.

It was "imperative" that they did so, he added.

Magistrates chairman Julie Eddows granted the application.

The prosecutor Nicola Williams told the court that last year the police had received information that an allegedly indecent image had been uploaded to the internet from a device. The device was linked to the defendant's address.

So on June 17 last year officers arrived at Rowlands' home to check his devices. Analysts later found a number of searches and keywords indicating a sexual interest in children on his mobile phone and laptop.

The searcher had used the persona "Carol" - something which Rowlands had done previously, the court heard.

The prosecutor told magistrates: "Despite previous rehabilitative efforts provided to the defendant the offending continued."

After his guilty pleas to breaches of the order, she applied for the case to be committed to Crown Court for sentencing.

Magistrates chairman Ms Eddows said the bench's sentencing powers were insufficient in this case and agreed to grant that application.

She adjourned the case for a sentencing hearing at Caernarfon Crown Court on April 1 and extended Rowlands' unconditional bail.