PHILIP KENNING FROM LLANDAILO JAILED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY INVOLVING SOUTH WALES

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the communities of South Wales, Philip Kenning, a man with a history of working with children, has been sentenced to prison for his involvement in the circulation and possession of explicit child pornography. The incident came to light after police executed a raid on his farmhouse residence in Bethlehem Road, Ffairfach, Llandeilo, on January 21, 2008.

During the police operation, officers uncovered a staggering collection of 1,070 indecent images of children stored on Kenning's computer equipment. The severity of these images was classified at various levels, with some involving the most heinous acts, including animals performing sexual acts on boys. The prosecution revealed that among the images, 25 were classified as level five, indicating the most serious content, 104 at level four, and a majority of 912 at level one, which is considered the least severe but still illegal.

Kenning, aged 44 at the time, had previously worked as a children’s events subcontractor across South Wales, including at functions organized by Swansea-based In House Entertainments. The company stated that Kenning had not been employed with them for several years but confirmed that he had undergone thorough background checks when he was. Despite his previous employment, Kenning’s criminal activities cast a dark shadow over his reputation.

The police investigation revealed that Kenning had sent an email titled “Monday Pics” to eight recipients, attaching 20 child pornographic images. In the email, he wrote, “A few pics for you guys to cheer you up on Monday,” a comment that underscores the disturbing nature of his actions. The authorities also discovered that Kenning had been involved in moderating several online groups and news forums, some of which circulated legal adult pornography. He admitted to police that he served as a moderator for multiple groups, providing technical support and overseeing content.

In court, prosecutor Mark Spackman detailed the extent of the images found on Kenning’s devices, emphasizing that the images ranged from less severe to the most explicit. The court heard that Kenning had possessed these images recklessly, as he had received them via emails in his role as a moderator but claimed he had not viewed the more serious content. His defense attorney, Chris James, argued that most of the images had not been actively viewed by Kenning and that they were present on his computer as part of his monitoring activities. James also pointed out that Kenning had circulated some images before he took on his moderating role and that he was unaware of the specific levels of the images he possessed.

Judge Peter Heywood condemned the material as “filthy pornographic material involving children,” emphasizing the heinous nature of the crimes. He expressed disbelief that such material could be considered anything other than deeply disturbing and harmful. The judge highlighted that the victims, young children, had been exploited and abused to satisfy the sexual desires of individuals like Kenning who accessed this material.

In sentencing, Kenning was given a six-month prison term, a ban from working with children, and was ordered to register as a sex offender for seven years. As he has no previous convictions, the sentence reflects the gravity of his offenses and the serious threat posed by his actions to the safety and well-being of children across South Wales.