Court: Wrexham man jailed for indecent image offences

Dominic Davey, of Elm Grove in Wrexham, appeared at Caernarfon Crown Court for sentence on Friday afternoon.

The 28-year-old, appearing via video link from HMP Berwyn, had previously admitted ten offences.

They included:

• Making indecent images of children at categories A, B and C
• Possession of prohibited images of children
• Distribution of indecent images at categories A, B and C
• Distribution of prohibited images of children
• Possession of extreme pornography
• Breach of a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO)

Karl Scholz, prosecuting, told the court that police searched the defendant's home on November 28 last year after receiving intelligence that indecent images had been uploaded online from an account linked to him.

A mobile phone and other devices were located - none of which were registered with the police, in breach of his SHPO.

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Davey admitted he'd had the phone for five years, unbeknown to the police.

Hundreds of indecent images categorised at A, B and C were identified, as were the prohibited images and extreme pornography - in addition to more than 18,000 other images which were not examined.

It was also discovered he'd been involved in hundreds of chats with others on a social media app, the majority of which involved the trading of child sexual abuse materials.

Dominic Davey (North Wales Police) (Image: North Wales Police)Mr Scholz told the court the defendant's previous offending involved a raft of similar offences.

Euros Jones, defending, told the court: "On arrest, Mr Davey made full admissions to police and then made full admissions in interview.

"He pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.

"He accepts he has a problem and he needs help with this problem.

"He has even discussed chemical castration with his probation officer and that has been canvassed.

"There is no escalation here - he's simply repeating the same thing time and time again.

"There's mention in the pre-sentence report of the line 'he would never approach a child' and the probation service doubts that.

"But Mr Davey is adamant he would never cross that line."

Judge Nicola Saffman told the defendant: "You repeatedly maintained you didn't have a phone or computer. That was a lie.

"And when the police arrived, the totality of these offences came to light.

"All of your previous convictions relate to offences involving children, photos of children, and breaches of your SHPO.

"You should know by now, having viewed many of these images, these are not victimless crimes.

"Children are tortured, raped, abused and beaten in the production of the movies and still images you had in your possession and distributed to others."

Davey listened with a bowed head as the Judge handed down an overall sentence of four years and eight months.

Judge Saffman told him: "Mr Davey, they only way to protect people from people like you is to stop you from having access to this material.

"And the only place we can be sure that will happen until you're rehabilitated is prison."

Davey nodded in agreement before leaving the prison link room.