GARY JOHNSON SENTENCED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY IN ABERGELE

A man from Abergele, identified as Gary Johnson, has been handed a significant prison sentence following his involvement in the creation and distribution of over 800 indecent photographs of children. Johnson, aged 53 and residing at Tegfan in Abergele, was sentenced to two years and eight months in custody by Caernarfon Crown Court on March 23.

In addition to his incarceration, Johnson was subjected to a series of strict legal restrictions aimed at preventing further harm. The court imposed an indefinite restraining order, which restricts any contact with certain victims and limits his presence near their residences or workplaces. Furthermore, he was issued a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), which includes a range of prohibitions designed to limit his online activity and contact with minors. He will also be under the requirements of the sex offenders register indefinitely, meaning he must regularly update authorities about his whereabouts and comply with monitored restrictions.

The proceedings were based on evidence presented by prosecutor Rosemary Proctor, who outlined the circumstances leading to Johnson’s conviction. According to her, authorities from North Wales Police executed a search of Johnson’s home on January 5, 2022, following a referral from the National Crime Agency. During this search, his phone and laptop were seized as evidence, revealing disturbing content.

The seized devices contained a total of 591 Category C indecent images, 100 Category B images, and 130 Category A images of children. Among these were 23 images depicting a person performing oral sex with a horse, adding a disturbing element to the case. Most of the indecent images made by Johnson himself depicted young girls aged between three and seven, with the youngest known victim being just two years old. Several images showed children in distress or being abused while tied up. There were also digitally manipulated images—pseudo images—created by editing photographs of children.

Further investigations uncovered that Johnson established an online messaging group inviting others to share similar illicit images through the messaging app “Kik.” During police interviews in October 2022, Johnson denied any sexual attraction to children. However, he admitted to being sexually attracted to one of the individuals he had digitally altered images of, suggesting a complex and troubling attitude towards his actions.

Victims of Johnson’s actions have spoken out about the devastating impact his crimes have had on their mental health. One victim’s statement revealed that they struggled with severe psychological issues due to the abuse and exploitation. They recounted a period of feeling betrayed, angry, scared, and violated, emphasizing the profound effect the case has had on their life. They expressed feeling a loss of trust, noting that these images were shared publicly, which meant they had no control over who saw them.

It was also revealed that Johnson has a criminal history, including a previous conviction over 20 years ago for actual bodily harm. His defense lawyer, Elen Owen, conveyed Johnson’s remorse, citing that he had expressed to her that he deserved whatever punishment the court saw fit. His life circumstances, marked by more than two decades in the Armed Forces and a period of isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic while working from home, are often cited in mitigation.

Evidence indicated that Johnson deleted the Kik app from his devices prior to their seizure, possibly in an attempt to cover his tracks. This case has had profound personal consequences: Johnson lost his employment, and his fear of losing his home looms. His actions have also caused significant familial disruption, with his adult children now estranged from him.

Johnson’s remorse was acknowledged by his legal representative, who stated that he had completed a rehabilitation course with the Lucy Faithfull Foundation, a charity dedicated to preventing child sexual abuse. Despite these efforts, the judge, Nicola Saffman, emphasized the severity of Johnson’s criminal acts, describing the images found as depicting children being raped, abused, and tortured. She pointed out that this is a crime with genuine victims, not a victimless offense.

Judge Saffman explicitly labeled Johnson and those involved in the online community as paedophiles, condemning their active participation in the creation and sharing of such heinous images. As part of the SHPO, Johnson is barred from using any device capable of internet access without police notification, and from engaging in a variety of online activities that could facilitate further abuse.

Restrictions include mandates to avoid deleting browsing history, refrain from withholding devices during police inquiries, and prevent the use of private or incognito browsing modes. He is also prohibited from using social media profiles under any false or unapproved names and from living with or having unapproved contact with any minor under 18. Any address or name changes must be promptly reported to authorities.

The restraining order further forbids Johnson from contacting victims directly or indirectly, attending their homes or workplaces, or referencing them online. The legal restrictions are designed to protect victims from further harm and to prevent Johnson from re-engaging in similar criminal conduct. The victim who attended court was acknowledged by the judge for demonstrating considerable courage in giving testimony. The court’s sentence and restrictions reflect the gravity of Johnson’s offending and the profound impact it has had on innocent victims and their families.