A MAN from Llandudno who “sought out” indecent images, including of children and of a dog, was spared jail.

John Jones, 42, of Clifton Road, was sentenced to 42 weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, at Caernarfon Crown Court today (June 6).

He had previously admitted three counts of making indecent photographs of a child, and a further offence of possessing an extreme pornographic image involving an animal.

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Prosecuting, Richard Edwards told the court that, on December 17, 2021, a referral was received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding Jones.

It was believed that Jones’ email address had uploaded files depicting sexual abuse of children to a Dropbox account.

On May 18, 2022, officers attended his home to execute a search warrant, where he was arrested, and had his mobile phone and laptop seized.

When his laptop was examined, a Dropbox link was found on its desktop screen, while both devices contained images and videos of child sex abuse.

In total, the following was found:

  • 95 category A still images of a child.
  • 94 category B still images of a child.
  • One category B moving image of a child.
  • 118 category C still images of a child.
  • An extreme pornographic image depicting a person performing a sex act on a dog.

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On one of the devices, an instant messaging application with end-to-end encryption called “Wickr” had been downloaded; when opened, it showed multiple usernames on the device relating to paedophilia.

Jones confirmed in a police interview that he was the sole user of the relevant email address, and that the devices seized were his, but he denied having a Dropbox account.

Defending Jones, who had no previous convictions or cautions, Sarah Yates said he has “lost his good character” as a result of these offences.

“This is a man who has had a good work ethic for a very long period of time,” she said of Jones, who works as a chef.

She invited the court to refrain from imposing immediate custody on Jones, saying that he is “motivated” to engage with the probation services.

Sentencing, Judge Rhys Rowlands told Jones he “effectively had sought out” the pornographic material.

But he agreed to suspend his sentence on the basis that, albeit at a late stage, he pleaded guilty to all four charges.

Judge Rowlands told him: “You were very sensible to take the advice you were given. I would not have been able to suspend this sentence if you had been convicted after trial.”

Jones was also ordered to adhere to sex offenders register notification requirements for 10 years, and was handed a sexual harm prevention order for the same period.

He will complete a programme, and 15 days’ rehabilitation activity requirements, while Judge Rowlands also ordered the deprivation of the devices seized from him.

In addition, Jones will pay a £1,000 fine, and the same amount in costs to the Crown Prosecution Service, as well as a £156 statutory surcharge.

This amounted to a total payment of £2,156.