DAVID PLATER FROM EBBW VALE SENTENCED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY IN CARDIFF

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Ebbw Vale, 63-year-old David Plater faced justice at Cardiff Crown Court after admitting to serious charges related to child exploitation and indecency. The proceedings revealed disturbing details about Plater’s actions, which included the possession and creation of indecent images of minors, as well as online predatory behavior.

According to the prosecution, Ruth Smith, police officers initiated an investigation that led them to Plater’s residence in Cwrt Rhyd, Ebbw Vale. The investigation was triggered when authorities in Scotland came across his email address during a separate case, prompting a search of his home on July 30, 2008. During the search, law enforcement officials uncovered a disturbing collection of images: five counts involved making indecent images, and one count involved possessing such images. Specifically, they found 38 images classified as level one, which are considered less severe, and a single level four image, indicating a more serious category of indecency.

Further evidence revealed that Plater had used the internet to search for child pornography, and he had engaged in online conversations under false pretenses. Court reports indicated that he posed as a young girl and communicated with minors under the age of 16 through internet chat rooms, engaging in inappropriate and illegal exchanges. The court also heard that since his arrest, Plater was observed viewing images of naked children on a computer at an internet café in Tredegar, raising further concerns about his ongoing predatory tendencies.

During the hearing, Harry Baker, representing Plater, acknowledged that the material involved was primarily level one images and emphasized that his client accepted the wrongdoing. The judge, taking into account the severity of the offenses, sentenced Plater to a three-year community order, which includes supervision and mandatory participation in a sexual offenders’ rehabilitation program. Additionally, Plater was prohibited from using internet chat rooms or any online platform to contact minors under 18. He is also barred from owning any device capable of internet access, and he cannot be in the company of individuals under 18 without parental consent.

Further restrictions include a ban from working with children and a requirement to report regularly to police for the next five years. These measures aim to monitor and prevent any potential reoffending, reflecting the serious nature of his crimes and the community’s need for protection.