JASON CHURCH FROM CEREDIGION SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEXUAL OFFENSES AND POSSESSION OF PAEDOPHILE MANUAL IN PEMBROKESHIRE

A disturbing case has emerged involving Jason Church, a man from Ceredigion, who was found to possess a highly disturbing collection of illegal material and a manual detailing how to exploit children. The court proceedings revealed that Church kept a 170-page manual titled "How to Practice Child Love," which provided explicit, step-by-step guidance on how to locate, groom, and engage in sexual activities with children as young as two years old. The manual controversially claimed that there were no valid reasons against adults having sex with children and asserted that its content was based on "advanced child psychology and research."

One of the most alarming aspects of the case was the discovery of over 39,000 images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children, some as young as two months old. Among these images, investigators identified 2,688 classified as Category A, indicating the most severe forms of abuse. Some of the photographs showed the attempted rape of a baby girl aged between two and four months, highlighting the extreme depravity involved.

The investigation was initiated after police in Pembrokeshire executed a search warrant at Church’s family home in Milford Haven on August 23, 2023. The warrant was obtained based on intelligence suggesting that indecent images had been downloaded onto a device linked to the property. When officers arrived at the residence at approximately 7:15 a.m., they explained their purpose to Church, who admitted that the material they sought was stored on his device. An initial examination of a Samsung phone confirmed the presence of illegal images, leading to his arrest and subsequent detention. During the police interview, Church acknowledged that he had downloaded indecent images, but the full extent of his collection was uncovered through detailed forensic analysis of his phone and SD card.

Further investigation revealed that the seized devices contained not only the images but also the explicit manual, which detailed methods for finding and grooming children. The manual also advised men to acquire a pet, claiming it would make them more attractive to children and increase their chances of access. It specifically targeted vulnerable groups, such as single mothers who "lack self-confidence" and might be more receptive to a new relationship, suggesting they could be exploited for sexual purposes.

In court, the prosecution, led by Ashanti-Jade Walton, described the disturbing findings and emphasized the danger posed by Church’s actions. The court was told that a welfare check was conducted on Church’s wife, who was described as being "in shock" by the events. Church, who is now residing in Llangrannog, Llandysul, Ceredigion, had previously pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing indecent images and to possessing the manual, which is an offense under section 69 of the Serious Crime Act 2015. He has no prior criminal convictions.

Defense counsel Regan Walters highlighted that Church had cooperated fully with law enforcement and had sought help from the Lucy Faithfull Foundation, a charity dedicated to preventing child sexual abuse. Walters explained that Church was aware he should not have been searching for or downloading such material and expressed regret for his actions. The lawyer also mentioned that Church had been suffering from depression since 2019, which was exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic and contributed to his alcohol consumption. The defendant’s professional life was also impacted, as he lost his managerial position at a timber frame business, a loss described as "devastating."

Judge Huw Rees addressed the court, stating that viewing such material would be "a harrowing experience for right-thinking people," but for Church, it represented "a base, crude sexual preoccupation." The judge emphasized that the images depicted real children being sexually exploited to satisfy the "degenerate and lustful demands" of individuals like Church. Concluding, the judge declared that Church posed "a risk and a danger to children."

Considering his guilty pleas, Church was sentenced to a total of 22 months in prison—16 months for possession of indecent images and an additional six months for possessing the paedophile manual. The sentences are to run consecutively, with the possibility of serving up to half in custody before being released on license. Additionally, Church will be registered as a sex offender for ten years and will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for the same duration.