LLEWELYN BUCKLAND FROM ALDINGTON AND CAERNARFON JAILED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CRIMES
In a disturbing case that has shocked the communities of Aldington and Caernarfon, Llewelyn Buckland, aged 42, was sentenced to two years in prison after police uncovered a cache of child abuse images at his Caernarfon residence in May 2016.The investigation revealed that Buckland, who previously served time for similar offences, had once again engaged in the possession and distribution of indecent images of children, despite being under a sexual offences prevention order.
The case was brought before the crown court in Caernarfon, where it was disclosed that in 2008, Buckland, then 38, had already been imprisoned for child pornography offences.
At that time, he was also issued with a sexual offences prevention order aimed at curbing his offending behavior.
However, recent events demonstrated a blatant disregard for court orders and the safety of children.
Prosecutor Ryan Rothwell detailed that, last month, authorities acted on intelligence that led them to Buckland’s home.
During the police raid, officers seized a computer along with notes containing email addresses and references to various websites.
The digital evidence was alarming: over 3,000 indecent and prohibited images of children were discovered on Buckland’s devices.
The images ranged from less severe to the most serious categories, including sadistic and bestiality content.
Buckland attempted to justify his actions by claiming he was driven by an “uncontrollable force” and cited attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as a mitigating factor.
His defense lawyer, Matthew Curtis, pointed out that Buckland’s partner and the mother of his child were present in court during the proceedings.
Despite his guilty plea to child pornography offences and breaching the sexual harm prevention order, Buckland’s history of offending cast a long shadow over the case.
Judge Rhys Rowlands emphasized that Buckland’s repeated breaches of court orders demonstrated either an inability or an unwillingness to comply with legal restrictions.
The judge also condemned the viewing of such images, stating, “Viewing indecent images of young children is far from being victimless.” During the sentencing, Judge Rowlands highlighted the grotesque nature of the images, describing them as “stomach-churning.” He also criticized Buckland’s refusal to cooperate with police, noting that he had refused entry to officers for 90 minutes and, astonishingly, claimed he was not sexually attracted to children.
Investigating officer DC Morgan Thomas from POLIT (Paedophile On-line Investigation Team) issued a stark warning, stating, “Criminality is robustly and positively investigated by North Wales Police.
POLIT along with the Digital Forensic Unit (DFU) are dedicated, specialist teams who are assigned to dealing with this type of crime.
This should act as a caution to people who download indecent images of children that North Wales Police are actively monitoring them.
This is not a victimless crime, it has to be remembered that every such image is that of a child being abused, and every acquisition of them via the Internet simply encourages their continued existence and supply.” In a related case from December 2011, Buckland, then 38, was convicted of downloading child pornography on his mobile phone.
He had concealed his past from a new partner, a mother, after having previously served time for similar offences.
He was sentenced to 16 months in prison for breaching a sexual offences prevention order and possessing indecent images.
Earlier, in November 2008, Buckland, a former retained firefighter from Aldington, was sentenced to two years after pleading guilty to possessing over 9,000 indecent images of children.
The images ranged from level 1 to the most serious, level 5, which depicted sadism and bestiality.
Kent Police’s Det Supt Paul Fotheringham condemned Buckland’s collection, describing it as “sickening” and emphasizing the ongoing threat posed by such offenders.
Following the investigation, Buckland resigned from Kent Fire and Rescue Service, reflecting the seriousness with which the organization treats such conduct.
Kent Police’s efforts in removing Buckland from the community and ensuring he faced justice have been commended by authorities, underscoring the ongoing commitment to protecting children and prosecuting offenders involved in the distribution and possession of child abuse images.
