LEE FLETCHER FROM NANTGAREDIG FACES SERIOUS CHARGES OVER CHILD INDECENT IMAGES IN CARMARTHEN

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Nantgaredig, Lee Darren Fletcher, a 40-year-old resident of the village, has admitted to possessing a significant number of indecent images of children. The disturbing discovery was made at his home, leading to a police investigation that uncovered a total of 287 illicit images stored on his devices.

Fletcher appeared before Llanelli Magistrates' Court to face charges related to the possession of these images. He pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing indecent images, which included 33 images classified as Category A—the most severe and explicit type—along with 78 images categorized as B and 176 as C. These charges stem from an incident that took place in Carmarthen on November 29 of the previous year.

The case was initiated after police executed a warrant at Fletcher’s residence in Nantgaredig. According to prosecutor Alex Scott, the police acted on information suggesting that illegal material involving children might be stored at the defendant’s address. The warrant led to Fletcher’s arrest and his subsequent detention at Llanelli Police Station, where a search of his property was conducted.

During the search, law enforcement officials discovered two significant electronic devices. An analysis of these devices revealed the presence of a total of 287 indecent images, confirming the initial suspicions. The images were categorized into three levels of severity, with 33 being the most explicit, 78 of a less severe nature, and 176 falling into the least severe category.

Initially, when questioned by police last year, Fletcher chose not to comment on the allegations. However, he later admitted to possessing the images, stating that they were for his personal use. This acknowledgment was made during subsequent interviews, and he did not deny the charges.

Representing Fletcher, mitigation solicitor Peter Maxfield Martin noted that some of the images might be duplicates, suggesting that further examination was necessary to determine the number of unique images stored on the devices. The court was informed that Fletcher was to be transferred to Swansea Crown Court for sentencing, scheduled for August 12. Until then, he was granted conditional bail, pending the final outcome of the case.