GARETH ROGERS FROM MILFORD HAVEN AND PEMBROKE SENTENCED FOR CHILD INDECENCY IMAGES

In a disturbing case that has shocked the communities of Milford Haven and Pembroke, Gareth Rogers, a 62-year-old man with a troubling history of possessing indecent images of children, was found to be in possession of an alarming number of illicit photographs. The incident unfolded on May 21, when police officers visited his residence on Milford Crescent, Milford Haven, following concerns related to his prohibited internet use.

Rogers, who had previously been convicted twice for similar offenses, was under a strict 10-year sexual offences prevention order issued in July 2014. This order explicitly banned him from owning any devices capable of connecting to the internet, a restriction meant to prevent further offenses. Despite this, during the police visit, Rogers handed over a mobile phone and led officers to a computer located in his living room. His nervousness was evident, and he appeared to be trying to conceal additional devices.

When officers followed him into the bedroom, they observed a television with a keyboard placed beside it, situated to the right of the bed. Rogers claimed that he occasionally moved his computer from the living room to the bedroom to connect it to the TV. However, his agitation and trembling raised suspicions among the officers. One officer noticed another computer unit that Rogers seemed intent on hiding. When questioned about the contents, Rogers admitted that there could be indecent photos on the device.

Subsequent examination of the computer revealed a disturbing cache of 1,129 indecent images of children. The images were categorized into three levels of severity: 418 in Category A, indicating the most serious material; 216 in Category B; and 495 in Category C. The children depicted ranged in age from as young as five to fourteen years old. The court was informed that Rogers had previously been sentenced on December 21, 2000, for making over 300 indecent images of children, receiving a nine-month jail term. He also faced a 26-week sentence in October 2013 for voyeurism, after being convicted of secretly filming a woman showering, and an eight-month sentence in July 2014 for making 533 indecent images of children.

During police interviews, Rogers chose to remain silent, offering no comments to questions posed. Nonetheless, he pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children and breaching his sexual offences prevention order. The court heard that Rogers currently resides on Murray Road in Milford Haven, where he is required to register as a sex offender for the next ten years. An order restricting his activities has also been imposed for the same duration.

In a related development, Rogers' earlier 18-month sentence was challenged on appeal. The case, heard by three senior judges at London’s Appeal Court, resulted in the sentence being reduced to 10 months. The judges acknowledged that the original term was excessive, especially considering Rogers’ prior convictions and the fact that he had shown little remorse or intent to change his behavior. The court noted that Rogers had committed these offenses following his conviction for voyeurism, which involved secretly filming a woman in the shower. The appeal judges emphasized that the original sentence did not align with proper sentencing guidelines, leading to the reduction.

Overall, Gareth Rogers’ case highlights the ongoing issues surrounding individuals with a history of sexual offenses and their continued access to illicit material. His actions have prompted serious legal consequences, including imprisonment, registration as a sex offender, and court orders designed to prevent further harm. The communities of Milford Haven and Pembroke remain vigilant in the face of such disturbing criminal behavior, emphasizing the importance of strict enforcement and monitoring of offenders to protect vulnerable children.