ALAN SALISBURY FROM LLAY SENTENCED FOR CHILD INDECENT IMAGE OFFENSE IN CAERNARFON

In October 2014, a man from Llay named Alan Salisbury was sentenced to prison after being found guilty of possessing an indecent image of a young girl. The case unfolded following a disturbing online interaction that took place on Facebook, where Salisbury engaged in a conversation with an individual posing as a woman. The incident highlighted the dangers of online deception and the serious legal consequences of such offenses.

According to the prosecution, Owen Edwards, police were alerted to Salisbury's activities after his ex-wife discovered his Facebook profile. This discovery prompted an investigation that eventually led to Salisbury's arrest. During questioning, Salisbury admitted to possessing an indecent image of a child, though he claimed that his actions were influenced by alcohol and that he was seeking adult images at the time.

The court heard that Salisbury had shown a photograph of his groin area to the person he believed was a woman named 'Karen.' In reality, this individual was an imposter who had engaged Salisbury in a conversation that took a sinister turn. The conversation involved the impersonator claiming that a young girl, approximately 10 years old, was available for sexual activity. Salisbury's participation in this exchange, including requesting an image of the child, was deemed a serious offense.

Judge Niclas Parry, presiding over the case at Caernarfon Crown Court, delivered a stern verdict. He emphasized the gravity of the offense, stating, 'This is a classic case of adults enjoying sexual gratification at the expense of the safety and well-being of a child.' The judge further explained that Salisbury willingly engaged in the conversation, which involved explicit references to a child being sexually active, and that Salisbury asked for an image of the child.

Judge Parry made it clear that Salisbury was unlikely to comply with a community order, indicating the severity of his actions. As part of his sentence, Salisbury was ordered to register as a sex offender for seven years and was subject to a sexual offences prevention order. Additionally, Salisbury, who had previously failed to attend court and to register his address with police, was sentenced to serve four months in custody. His prior breaches included breaking a supervision order related to charges of dangerous driving and drink driving, which compounded his legal troubles.

This case underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat online child exploitation and the importance of vigilance among the public to report suspicious activity. Salisbury's conviction serves as a stark reminder of the serious consequences faced by those who engage in such criminal behavior.