ANDREW HIGGINS FROM LLANSANTFFRAID-YM-MECHAIN SENTENCED FOR DISTURBING CHILD ABUSE IMAGES IN POWYS

In July 2023, a man from Powys, specifically from the village of Llansantffraid-ym-Mechain, was handed a sentence in connection with the possession and distribution of highly disturbing child abuse images and videos. The individual, identified as 53-year-old Andrew Higgins, faced serious allegations after police conducted a raid on his residence and uncovered a significant collection of illicit material.

During the police search, officers discovered a total of 50 videos and 40 images stored on Higgins' mobile phones. Alarmingly, nearly half of these were classified as Category A, indicating the most severe level of child exploitation material. The authorities also seized a laptop from his home, which contained extreme pornography, alongside the mobile devices that held the indecent images and videos of children.

Further investigation revealed that Higgins had shared a Category B video depicting a man sexually abusing a pre-teen girl. The court was informed that among the most heinous images found, three depicted a man sexually abusing a toddler. Additionally, two videos showed a man performing sexual acts on a girl estimated to be between six and eight years old. Another image displayed a man engaging in sexual abuse of a pre-teen girl.

Higgins admitted to the police that he was responsible for the offences on the very same day his home was searched. This admission was described as unusual by the court, highlighting the gravity of the case. The evidence presented in Mold Crown Court painted a disturbing picture of Higgins' activities, which had been ongoing for a significant period.

Judge Rhys Rowlands sentenced Higgins to 10 months in prison, but the sentence was suspended for two years. The judge described the offences as “frankly disturbing” and emphasized the seriousness of the crimes. He stated, “Your family and others cannot understand how a man such as yourself could behave in frankly such a disgusting way.”

In his sentencing remarks, Judge Rowlands acknowledged that while the number of images and videos was not the largest seen in court, the nature of the offences was profoundly disturbing. He noted that Higgins had been accessing such material over an extended period, which compounded the severity of his actions.

Given the gravity of the offences, the judge explained that the case crossed the threshold for immediate custody but opted for a supervised probation order instead. He warned Higgins that any failure to comply with the conditions, such as missing appointments or committing further offences, would result in a return to court and likely imprisonment.

As part of his sentence, Higgins is now required to register as a sex offender and will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for the next ten years. Additionally, he must pay costs amounting to £500 and complete 15 days of rehabilitation requirements aimed at addressing his offending behavior.