OLD COLWYN MAN PHILIP LEWIS SENTENCED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSES IN MOLD
In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Old Colwyn, Philip Lewis, a 61-year-old resident of Ensleigh Road, was found to possess an alarming collection of over 5,000 indecent images of children on his personal computers.The investigation revealed that Lewis derived sexual gratification from viewing these images, which included both still photographs and videos, some of the most heinous and disturbing material imaginable.
It was reported that Lewis preferred to watch these illicit images on his television screen rather than on his laptop, leading him to copy many of the images onto DVDs for easier viewing.
The authorities uncovered the extent of his collection during a detailed search, which exposed the horrifying nature of some of the images, depicting children as young as two and three years old.
At Mold Crown Court, the prosecution outlined the severity of the case, with Lewis admitting to a total of 19 charges related to the making and possession of these indecent images.
The charges included some classified in the most severe category, reflecting the grotesque and illegal content he had stored.
Despite the gravity of the offenses, Judge Dafydd Hughes chose to impose a sentence that was notably lenient given the circumstances.
Lewis was sentenced to 52 weeks in prison, but this sentence was suspended for two years.
The judge explained that the suspension was granted partly because of Lewis’s age and the fact that he had maintained a previously good character before these offenses came to light.
As part of his sentence, Lewis was ordered to participate in a sex offender group work program and placed under two years of supervision.
Additionally, he was required to remain indoors at night for the next four months, monitored by an electronic tag.
The court also mandated that Lewis register as a sex offender with the police for the next ten years and imposed a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) to restrict his future use of the internet, aiming to prevent any further offenses.
The judge emphasized that the leniency of the sentence was influenced by Lewis’s age and previous good character, stating that these factors contributed to the decision to suspend the prison term.
The defense, represented by Tom Bureau, highlighted that Lewis had previously been involved in charitable activities and had assisted with the scouts, which was acknowledged during sentencing.
