GERAINT ROWLANDS FROM TYWYN SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES AND ONLINE PREDATOR BEHAVIOR IN GWYNEDD

In a series of disturbing criminal cases, Geraint Rowlands, a resident of Tywyn in Gwynedd, North Wales, has been found guilty of multiple serious offenses related to child exploitation and possession of indecent images. His criminal activities span over a decade, revealing a pattern of disturbing behavior that has shocked the local community and prompted strict legal action.

In April 2022, Rowlands, aged 64, was convicted at Caernarfon Crown Court on six counts of breaching a sexual harm prevention order. The court heard that he had been subject to this order since December 2017, following his previous conviction for possessing extreme and prohibited pornographic images. The order, which was set for ten years, explicitly prohibited him from accessing social networking sites or applications without prior police notification. Despite this, Rowlands continued to seek out and access online content that he was legally barred from viewing, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Records from his internet history revealed that he persistently used banned websites and apps until June 2021. Investigators uncovered that he employed various 'disturbing search terms,' including searches for material involving young girls. During the investigation, police seized his mobile phone and laptop, which revealed that he had been using a fake identity under the name 'Carol Jones' to conceal his activities. One of his online accounts was set up on Flickr, where he created a profile under the persona of a 56-year-old lesbian named Carol, in an apparent attempt to hide his true identity.

Further analysis of his online activity uncovered conversations with what appeared to be other sexual offenders sharing similar interests. One particularly alarming message referenced 'young girls and canines' as being 'high on his list of pleasures,' highlighting the disturbing nature of his online interactions. When questioned, Rowlands admitted to setting up these accounts but denied any sexual interest in children. He also claimed to have 'six or seven' email addresses unknown to police, indicating an attempt to further conceal his online footprint.

Prosecutor Dafydd Roberts emphasized the gravity of the case, stating that Rowlands had not only admitted to creating these accounts but also that his online searches and communications were deeply concerning. Defense counsel Simon Rodgers acknowledged the troubling content Rowlands sought but argued that he had not contacted any children nor downloaded any illegal content. Rodgers suggested that, in cases like this, a community-based punishment with probation support might be more beneficial than immediate imprisonment.

However, Judge Timothy Petts dismissed these arguments, citing the 'no realistic prospect of rehabilitation' for such 'disturbing' habits. He sentenced Rowlands to 14 months in prison, emphasizing that his 'distorted mindset' persisted and that he viewed himself as a passive observer in discussions of child sex abuse. The judge condemned his perverted sexual gratification and dismissed any remorse as insufficient to warrant leniency. Additionally, the court ordered the destruction of all devices seized from his home and maintained the existing terms of his sexual harm prevention order.

Earlier, in December 2017, Rowlands faced another serious conviction when he was sentenced for possessing over 500 indecent images of children. The court heard that he had uploaded images to an internet chat room, which led to police discovering a total of 527 images and videos, including some of children aged between six months and 14 years. Rowlands, then 56, was a former Army Cadets leader, town councillor, and employee at Barclays Bank. His offenses spanned from May 2007 to July 2017.

Police executed a search warrant at his Cleveland Avenue residence in Tywyn after tracing the uploaded images to his IP address. Rowlands admitted to viewing pornography daily and acknowledged the categorization of the images as involving very young children. He was sentenced to a 52-week jail term, suspended for two years, and ordered to register as a sex offender for ten years. The court also mandated his participation in a 60-day rehabilitation program, 160 hours of unpaid work, and the continued enforcement of his sexual harm prevention order, which included restrictions on internet use and data deletion.

In a further case from November 2017, Rowlands pleaded guilty to possessing over 1,500 indecent images of both children and adults, including 63 of the most serious category A images. The charges detailed that he had made and possessed images dating from May 2007 to July 2017. The police investigation was initiated after he uploaded images to an online chat room, which were linked to his IP address. The images included children as young as six months and up to 14 years old, with some depicting bestiality. Rowlands, then 56, admitted to the offences in court and was remanded on bail pending sentencing.

These cases highlight the ongoing threat posed by individuals like Geraint Rowlands, whose actions have caused significant concern among law enforcement and the community in Gwynedd. His repeated offenses and attempts to conceal his activities underscore the importance of vigilant policing and strict legal measures to protect vulnerable children from exploitation and abuse.