ANTHONY HOLLISTER FROM PONTYPOOL CAUGHT WITH OVER 1,000 BESTIALITY IMAGES AND DANGEROUS WEAPONS IN THE UK AND IRELAND

In December 2015, authorities uncovered a disturbing case involving Anthony Hollister, a resident of Pontypool, who was found to possess an alarming collection of illegal and highly disturbing material on his computer. The police investigation revealed that Hollister had accumulated more than 1,000 images depicting bestiality, a form of extreme pornography that is strictly prohibited under UK law. These images were discovered during a raid on his residence, where officers found him hiding beneath a quilt in bed, clutching a fully-charged Taser, which posed a significant threat to their safety.

Hollister, aged 35 and living in Fairview Court, had previously managed to evade arrest for a period of three months by traveling across multiple countries, including Poland, Denmark, Luxembourg, and the Republic of Ireland. His international movements complicated efforts to apprehend him, but authorities persisted in their pursuit. It was later revealed that he had failed to declare his status as a registered sex offender to Irish authorities, further complicating his legal situation.

The police in Gwent had been monitoring Hollister regularly, given his known criminal history. In October 2014, when officers attempted to gain entry to his home, he refused to cooperate. As a result, they obtained a warrant and forcibly entered his residence. During the search, officers discovered Hollister in bed, under a quilt, with a knife and a fully charged Taser in his possession. Additionally, a second Taser was found in his bedside cabinet. Crown prosecutor Tony Trigg described the Taser as being more powerful than those used by police, highlighting the potential danger Hollister posed.

Hollister was arrested in March of the same year but failed to answer bail at Ystrad Mynach police station. It was subsequently discovered that he had left the country, prompting an international manhunt. He was detained in Ireland and remanded in custody until July, when UK police extradited him back to the United Kingdom for trial.

During the investigation, authorities uncovered eight of the most serious Category A child sex videos on Hollister’s computer, including six videos involving a single child. Alongside these, they found 1,005 images of bestiality, which are considered among the most severe forms of illegal content. His internet search history included queries such as “free animal porn” and “is sex with a horse illegal in the UK?”, indicating a disturbing interest in illegal and harmful material.

Representing Hollister, lawyer Richard Ace emphasized that there was no evidence to suggest he intended to use the knife or Taser in a violent manner. He also highlighted Hollister’s mental health condition, stating that he suffers from Schizotypal personality disorder. The lawyer explained that Hollister’s unusual behavior could be attributed to his mental health issues, which might appear strange to ordinary people but are part of his diagnosed condition.

Judge Philip Richards sentenced Hollister to a three-year community order, which includes a requirement to undergo 60 days of rehabilitation. The judge expressed that this approach offered the best chance to address the numerous issues affecting Hollister. Additionally, a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order was imposed to restrict his access to certain materials and prevent further offenses.

Following the hearing, Detective Sergeant Ieuan Watkins commented on the case, stating, “Robust management of this individual identified non-compliance, resulting in forced entry to his home. He was in possession of an extremely dangerous Taser device and a large knife. He was arrested and examination of his computer revealed horrific indecent images of children.”

He further explained that Hollister had fled the UK, was pursued internationally, and was eventually arrested in Ireland before being extradited back to the UK. Authorities assured the public that he would now be closely monitored by specialist officers within Gwent to prevent any further harm.