ANDREW LINEY PUNISHED FOR INTERNET BREACH IN PONTARDAWE AND SWANSEA VALLEY

In a case that highlights ongoing concerns about sex offenders and their compliance with legal restrictions, Andrew Liney, a resident of High Street, Pontardawe, found himself back in court after breaching a court-imposed internet ban. The incident took place in the Swansea Valley, an area already familiar with the challenges of managing sex offenders within the community.

According to reports presented at Swansea Crown Court, Liney, aged 26, had been explicitly prohibited from accessing the internet under a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO). Despite this, he managed to log onto Facebook, a popular social networking platform, by using computers available in local libraries, including Swansea Central Library. This act of defiance was brought to light during the court proceedings, raising serious questions about his understanding and adherence to the restrictions placed upon him.

Liney’s breach of the order was not an isolated incident. The court was informed that he had previously pleaded guilty in December 2006 to 21 counts of possessing indecent images of children. These charges stemmed from a police search conducted at his residence the year prior, which uncovered a disturbing collection of 1,461 images stored on his computer. Such evidence underscored the severity of his offenses and the importance of strict supervision.

Prior to this breach, Liney had been subject to a three-year community rehabilitation order, which aimed to monitor and rehabilitate him within the community. Additionally, he was under a Sexual Offences Prevention Order that explicitly barred him from accessing the internet, a measure intended to prevent further offenses and protect the public.

During sentencing, Judge Peter Heywood expressed concern over the method by which Liney accessed the internet. It was revealed that he had used a different name to log onto Facebook, which the judge noted as a deliberate attempt to circumvent restrictions. The judge also stated that he could not accept Liney’s claim of ignorance regarding the specific terms of his order, implying that the defendant was fully aware of the restrictions but chose to ignore them.

As a result of his breach, Liney was sentenced to 26 weeks in jail, but the sentence was suspended for 12 months, allowing him to remain in the community under strict conditions. He was also subjected to an eight-week curfew from 9 pm to 6 am, enforced through electronic tagging, to ensure compliance with the court’s directives.

Prosecutor Mikhael Paur highlighted the gravity of the case, emphasizing the importance of monitoring sex offenders and ensuring they adhere to legal restrictions designed to safeguard the community. The case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by authorities in managing individuals with a history of sexual offenses within the Swansea Valley and beyond.