PAUL DAVIES FROM CROESYCEILIOG ESCAPES JAIL DESPITE HAVING GREATEST COLLECTION OF CHILD SEX IMAGES IN GWENT

In a case that has shocked the local community of Croesyceiliog and the wider Gwent region, Paul Davies, a 64-year-old resident of Cardigan Close in Croesyceiliog, was found to possess what authorities have described as the largest collection of child sexual abuse images ever recovered in Gwent. The disturbing discovery was made during a police search conducted on September 22, when officers uncovered thousands of indecent images and videos stored on Davies' computer.

Following the search, Davies was taken into custody and subsequently appeared before Newport Magistrates’ Court on September 24. There, he pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children and one count of possessing extreme pornography. The case drew significant attention due to the sheer volume and severity of the material found on his devices.

Pre-sentence reports presented at Cardiff Crown Court revealed the disturbing extent of Davies’ collection. Authorities identified 122 videos classified as Category A, which is considered the most serious level of child exploitation material. Additionally, there were 19 videos in Category B and 36 in Category C. The images were equally alarming, with 6,144 deemed Category A, 6,080 Category B, and 112,486 Category C videos. Beyond these, Davies also possessed approximately 140,000 other images and videos of extreme pornography, highlighting a deeply troubling pattern of behavior.

Prosecutor Peter Dennison stated that Davies had casually told officers that “there were a few naughties” on his hard drive, a comment that underscored the disturbing nature of his collection. He emphasized that the number of indecent images recovered was the largest ever found by officers in Gwent, marking a significant and troubling milestone in local law enforcement efforts against such crimes.

Defense lawyer Ieuan Bennett described Davies as “beyond remorseful” and expressed that his client was “devastated” upon discovering that his family had become aware of his actions. Bennett highlighted that Davies, who has a wife, grown children, and grandchildren, fully understands the gravity of his offenses. He suggested that the volume of images indicated a habitual behavior, which had become a disturbing part of his life. Bennett also noted that Davies had been looking forward to a peaceful retirement but now recognizes that he has lost that prospect due to his actions.

In sentencing, Judge Jeremy Jenkins opted for a lenient approach, imposing a 10-month prison sentence suspended for two years. The judge also issued a sexual harm prevention order lasting ten years, which prohibits Davies from intentionally communicating with or living with female children under the age of 16. During his remarks, Judge Jenkins referenced testimonies from Davies’ family members, describing his actions as “totally uncharacteristic.”

The judge condemned the nature of the images, stating, “These images show young, real children being horribly sexually abused by evil individuals, and people like you are downloading these images and are simply making their industry bigger.” He emphasized the ongoing harm caused to children and urged Davies to reflect deeply on the consequences of his actions.

As part of his sentence, Davies was ordered to pay prosecution costs of £340, along with a victim surcharge of £140. Additionally, he is required to complete 25 days of rehabilitation to address his behavior and prevent future offenses.