DAVID CLAPTON FROM RHYDLEWIS EXPOSED AS CHILD PREDATOR AT NATIONAL CHILDREN'S CHARITY

In October 2013, a shocking case emerged involving David Clapton, a man from Rhydlewis, who was found to have committed heinous crimes related to child exploitation and abuse. Clapton, aged 52, was the founder of the well-known Harvest Trust, a charity that operated across the nation with a focus on helping vulnerable children. The organization arranged holidays in West Wales for children facing various challenges and had accumulated substantial funds, totaling approximately £648,000 between 2005 and 2009. However, the charity ceased submitting accounts to the Charity Commission after that period, raising questions about its operations.

Clapton’s criminal activities came to light after police investigations uncovered disturbing evidence. It was revealed that he had used a wristwatch equipped with a covert camera to film children in the nude, as well as a shaver with a hidden camera inside. These devices were part of a broader pattern of voyeuristic behavior. Additionally, police found that Clapton had installed filming devices in the bathroom of his residence, Anwylfa, located in Rhydlewis near Cardigan, where he and his wife had been accepted as foster carers by Ceredigion County Council in March 2011.

Within just 18 months of their approval, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the property. During the raid, officers confiscated a significant amount of computer equipment, including a seemingly ordinary wristwatch capable of recording sound and video, and a shaver with similar capabilities. The police also discovered footage that showed Clapton engaging in sexual abuse of a young boy under the pretext of drying him after a bath. This evidence was particularly disturbing and confirmed the allegations of abuse.

Further investigation revealed that Clapton had been accessing child pornography websites on the internet. The police found that he possessed over 11,271 indecent images of children on his computers, some classified as the most serious category five. Despite his claims that he was researching child abuse as part of his role as a foster carer, authorities confronted him with the evidence of his secret filming devices and his online activity. Clapton also searched for information about jail sentences for paedophiles, indicating a troubling awareness of the legal consequences.

Clapton’s defense lawyer, Janet Gedrych, argued that the footage found was not distributed and that Clapton had only viewed images related to 'naturism.' She emphasized that the indecent images were not shared and that the charity he founded was no longer operational. She also stated that Clapton had only sent back similar 'naturism' pictures and that his actions did not involve the charity’s activities directly.

However, the prosecution highlighted that Clapton’s offenses were directly linked to his role as a foster carer, a position that requires the utmost trust and integrity. The court heard that Clapton’s actions betrayed the trust placed in him by social services, his own family, and the children he was supposed to protect. The judge, Paul Thomas, condemned Clapton’s conduct, stating that many foster carers dedicate their lives to helping children in need, often from tragic backgrounds. He emphasized that Clapton, knowing his own sexual attractions to children, had deliberately schemed to exploit vulnerable young individuals.

Judge Thomas condemned Clapton for his betrayal, noting that he had pretended to be a caring foster parent while secretly engaging in criminal activities. The judge pointed out that Clapton’s purchase of a spy watch was indicative of his obsession with secretly filming children, further illustrating the depth of his misconduct. As a result, Clapton was sentenced to four years and three months in prison for multiple offenses, including sexual assault on a seven-year-old boy, voyeurism, and possession of child pornography. The court’s verdict underscored the severity of his crimes and the breach of trust involved in his actions.