HAVERFORDWEST MAN KEVIN JOHN SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES AND POSSESSION OF THOUSANDS OF INDECENT IMAGES

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Haverfordwest, Kevin John, aged 49, has been found guilty of a series of heinous sexual offences involving minors, including the rape of a young girl and the possession of an extensive collection of indecent images. The case came to light after a detailed investigation by Dyfed-Powys Police, which uncovered a disturbing pattern of criminal behavior spanning over two decades.

Kevin John’s offending was first brought to police attention in April when officers executed a search warrant at his residence on Prendergast. During the raid, law enforcement officials seized a staggering 111 electronic devices, including tablets, laptops, mobile phones, and nearly 1,000 disks. The forensic analysis of these devices revealed a vast trove of illegal content, including approximately 9,000 indecent images and videos, some of which depicted the most extreme forms of child abuse.

The investigation uncovered evidence of John’s involvement in multiple criminal acts, including the rape of a girl under the age of 16. The court heard that he had also recorded young girls in private acts without their consent, and had a collection of thousands of indecent and extreme images. Among these were photographs that had been digitally manipulated, with John enlarging the breasts of children or superimposing their faces onto pornographic images of women. His collection also included images of a girl he was alleged to have assaulted in 2003, although at the time, the authorities did not have enough evidence to prosecute him for that specific incident.

Kevin John’s criminal record also includes a caution from 2008 for an incident involving inappropriate contact with a teenage girl, where he was accused of putting his hand down the front of her jeans. His latest charges, which he pleaded guilty to, encompass 20 counts of serious sexual offences, including the rape of a child, sexual assault, causing a minor to engage in sexual activity, and possession of a vast array of indecent images classified under categories A, B, and C. The court was told that John had been actively searching for and downloading such material from the internet since 2000.

During the sentencing hearing at Swansea Crown Court, Judge Geraint Walters described John’s behavior as “wicked” and emphasized the long-standing, entrenched nature of his offending. The judge highlighted the particularly heinous act of drugging a young girl with alcohol before raping her, and noted that John had taken “delight” in filming the assault in graphic detail. The judge further stated that John posed a significant risk to young girls and should be considered a dangerous offender under the law.

As a result, Kevin John was sentenced to a total of 18 years in prison, comprising 12 years of custody followed by six years on extended license. He will be required to serve at least two-thirds of his custodial sentence before being eligible to apply for parole, and release will only occur if the authorities determine he no longer poses a danger to the public. Additionally, he will be registered as a sex offender for life and subject to a sexual harm prevention order designed to restrict his internet use and contact with minors.

Judge Walters also expressed regret that the victim of the 2003 assault, which was never prosecuted, had been let down by the justice system. He emphasized the importance of taking allegations of abuse by children and young people seriously, stating that a “change of attitude” was long overdue in handling such cases. The court’s decision underscores the severity of Kevin John’s crimes and the ongoing threat he poses to society, especially to vulnerable young girls and children.