ANTHONY LEWIS FROM PRESTEIGNE INVOLVED IN CHILD INDECENCY CASE AT SWANSEA AND MERTHYR TYDFIL COURTS

In September 2021, a man from Presteigne named Anthony Lewis faced serious allegations related to the possession of indecent images of children, leading to multiple court appearances and a significant legal outcome.

Lewis, aged 21, was initially brought before Llandrindod Wells Magistrates Court, where he admitted to three charges of creating indecent images of children. These charges stemmed from the discovery of a total of 2,787 images on three devices found at his residence on Castle Street in Presteigne during a police search conducted on March 20 of the previous year. Among these images, 317 were classified as Category A, indicating the most severe level of indecency.

The police investigation was prompted by concerns over internet activity at Lewis’s home. When officers arrived, Lewis was present and cooperated by handing over his phone and providing access codes. A preliminary examination of his devices revealed multiple images of children, prompting the seizure of two mobile phones and a tablet. These devices contained a disturbing collection of images: 317 in Category A, including videos, 297 in Category B, and a further 2,173 in Category C.

Prosecutor Tom Scapen explained that police had not examined an additional 6,976 images because they already possessed enough evidence to proceed with charges. The investigation confirmed that Lewis’s online activity involved downloading and viewing indecent images of children, raising serious concerns about his sexual predilection towards pre-pubescent girls, which he admitted had become his “normal existence” since he was 14.

Following these revelations, Lewis appeared at Swansea Crown Court on September 23, where he faced sentencing. The court considered his guilty pleas and the evidence presented. Judge Chris Clee sentenced Lewis to a two-year community order, which includes a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement aimed at addressing his distorted thinking. Additionally, a sexual harm prevention order was imposed, effective until further notice, and Lewis was placed under a five-year notification order, requiring him to inform police of any changes in his personal circumstances during that period. The court also ordered the destruction of the three devices containing the images.

Judge Clee emphasized the seriousness of the case, stating, “You are 21 and pleaded guilty at the first available opportunity and while you could have no complaints if I did send you to custody immediately, those factors just about allow me to follow the recommendation in the pre-sentence report that will hopefully address the distortions in your thinking. If you fall down on the requirements of that order, you will be brought back here and you will go down the stairs.”

Prior to these proceedings, Lewis had appeared at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on September 1, where he pleaded guilty to three similar charges related to the same set of images. The offences spanned from January 1, 2017, to March 21, 2020, at his home address. The charges included making 317 Category A images, 297 Category B images, and 2,173 Category C images of children. During that hearing, Judge Twomlow warned Lewis that he faced serious consequences and that “all options are open” when he returns for sentencing, which was scheduled for September 22. Lewis was also ordered to register as a sex offender immediately and was released on bail pending his next court appearance.

Throughout these proceedings, the case has highlighted the ongoing concerns regarding online exploitation and the importance of rigorous legal action to address such grave offenses. Anthony Lewis’s case from Presteigne underscores the severity with which the justice system treats the possession and distribution of indecent images of children, emphasizing both the need for accountability and the potential for rehabilitation.