ALAN HART FROM COLWYN BAY CAUGHT WITH OVER 15,000 CHILD PORN IMAGES IN SHOCKING CRIME

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Colwyn Bay, a local photographer named Alan Hart, aged 73, was found to possess an alarming collection of over 15,000 child pornography images stored on his computer. The revelation came to light after a relative, who was assisting in clearing out Hart’s studio, uncovered the extensive cache of illicit material, prompting a police investigation that uncovered the full extent of his crimes.

Hart, who had established himself as a wedding and portrait photographer with a portfolio that included numerous fashion models, was caught in the act of possessing these horrific images. The police found thousands of photographs depicting children as young as five years old, many of which displayed some of the most severe forms of abuse imaginable. The images had been downloaded from the internet over a period spanning from August 2007 to April 2009.

During the investigation, Hart admitted to downloading the images, but he attempted to downplay the severity of his actions during police interviews. His studio, located on Greenfield Road in Colwyn Bay, was his professional base for many years, and he had built a reputation in the local community as a seasoned photographer. However, his career took a dark turn after he suffered a stroke last year, which led to the studio being vacated and the discovery of the illicit material.

At Mold Crown Court, Judge Niclas Parry addressed the court regarding Hart’s actions, describing the images as evidence of children being subjected to actual abuse. The judge emphasized that Hart’s possession of such images contributed to the demand for child exploitation, stating, “You may not at this stage accept that, but it is people like you that create the demand for things to be done to children. These were images of things that were actually happening to children – children were subjected to what you saw.”

The court heard that Hart had previously worked as a marine engineer in the merchant navy and later for Hotpoint before establishing his photography business. His professional life was largely centered around fashion photography, working with emerging models and building a reputation in the industry.

Prosecutor Elen Owen detailed how police attended Hart’s home address, Ffordd Pandy in Colwyn Bay, in October of the previous year, following the assistance of a relative in clearing out his studio. The officers discovered an enormous quantity of images on a single computer, with at least 14,914 images classified at the lowest level of severity, along with additional images at higher levels of depravity—202 at level two, 181 at level three, 145 at level four, and eight of the most severe type at level five.

Despite the overwhelming evidence, Hart sought to minimize his involvement during police interviews. The court was told that he had been suffering from health issues, including a stroke in May 2009 and ongoing depression, for which he had been prescribed anti-depressants since September of that year.

In sentencing, Judge Parry handed Hart a 52-week prison sentence, which was suspended for two years, along with two years of supervision. Additionally, Hart was placed on the sex offenders’ register for a period of ten years and was subject to an indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO). He was also ordered to pay costs amounting to £1,000.

William Beardmore, defending Hart, highlighted his client’s health problems, emphasizing that Hart was a man of good character prior to these events. The court acknowledged the seriousness of the crimes but also considered his health and personal circumstances in the sentencing decision.