ADAM GIBBONS FROM BLACKWOOD ESCAPES JAIL AFTER POSSESSING NEARLY 1,500 CHILD SEX IMAGES IN SOUTH WALES

In a case that has shocked the community of Blackwood, Adam Gibbons, a 20-year-old resident of Canberra Close, was found in possession of an alarming number of indecent images of children, totaling nearly 1,500 photographs. Despite the severity of the evidence against him, Gibbons was spared a custodial sentence after a court hearing at Newport Crown Court.

On August 9 of the previous year, police executed a search warrant at Gibbons' home following intelligence reports indicating that he was involved in downloading and viewing illegal images of minors. During the search, authorities uncovered a significant collection of illicit material stored across multiple devices, including a USB stick, an external hard drive, a laptop, and a desktop computer. The investigation revealed that the images ranged in severity, with 1,499 pictures of children as young as ten years old. The images were categorized into different levels of severity: 931 at level one, 91 at level two, 299 at level three, 144 at level four, and 34 at the most severe level five.

Gibbons admitted to police that he had been downloading these images for his own gratification over a period of two years. He faced multiple charges, including 15 counts of making indecent images of children and one count of possession of such images. During his police interview, Gibbons was described as being remarkably candid about his actions, expressing feelings of disgust towards himself. His pre-sentence report highlighted his remorse, as well as the personal consequences he had already faced, including the loss of his partner and his job.

Following his appearance before magistrates, the community's response was swift and harsh. Vandals defaced his family home with the words ‘paedo scum,’ reflecting the outrage and condemnation from local residents.

In sentencing, Recorder Jeremy Jenkins opted against imprisonment, citing that the maximum two-year sentence would not be sufficient to allow for effective treatment programs. Instead, Gibbons was handed a three-year community order for each of the offences, to be served concurrently. He was also ordered to attend an internet sexual offender’s programme, disqualified from working with children for five years, and required to register as a sex offender for the same period. Additionally, he was issued a sexual offences prevention order to restrict his activities.

The court decreed that Gibbons’ computer equipment would be confiscated and destroyed, emphasizing the serious nature of his crimes and the importance of preventing further offenses. Judge Jenkins underscored the gravity of the images, stating that “no-one, reading a synopsis of these images, could feel anything but utter revulsion, you are looking at abuse of children in the most vile way.”