PRYDERI TOMOS AND SHOCKING CHILD ABUSE IMAGES IN WAUNFARR, GWYNEDD

A convicted sex offender identified as Pryderi Tomos has committed a disturbing breach of legal restrictions by viewing distressing images of child abuse on his mobile device, despite being aware that monitoring software had been installed on it. This unsettling revelation was brought before Caernarfon Crown Court, highlighting the ongoing issues surrounding the offender’s compliance with court-imposed restrictions.

Pryderi Tomos, aged 35 and previously residing in Waunfawr in Gwynedd, is known to authorities for past crimes related to child exploitation. In 2017, he received a custodial sentence after authorities found him in possession of children’s underwear in his bed, alongside hundreds of indecent photographs and videos stored on his computers. Since his release from prison in October 2021, Tomos was subject to strict bail conditions, including the installation of monitoring software on his mobile phone, which began on February 16, 2022. These measures were intended to prevent him from accessing illegal and exploitative material.

Despite the knowledge that his online activities were being closely tracked, reports indicate that Tomos continued to access and view indecent videos. Prosecutor Laura Knightly outlined in court that he had viewed multiple such videos in February, some lasting nearly an hour, depicting young girls as young as six being abused by adult men. Alarmingly, the tracking data revealed that Tomos had engaged with “numerous” such videos, viewing them over 19 separate instances within a span of just over 24 hours. It was further disclosed that some video clips had been watched more than once, suggesting a pattern of repeated viewing of illicit content.

The police intervened after monitoring his activity uncovered these violations. Authorities seized two mobile phones during his arrest, and during police interviews, Tomos claimed that he was only watching pornography featuring adult individuals. However, forensic analysis of his devices produced evidence contradicting his account, as investigators found that he had viewed videos involving children and had taken screenshots from this inappropriate material. These images predominantly depicted young females aged between six and 15 years old.

During the court proceedings, Tomos’s defense attorney, John Wyn Williams, acknowledged his client’s awareness of the gravity of the charges and the potential consequences. Williams highlighted that Tomos suffers from identifiable mental health issues and had admitted his guilt when questioned by authorities. He argued that Tomos was “crying out for help,” and emphasized that he had been seeking assistance from mental health and probation services. Nonetheless, he accepted that in the current circumstances, incarceration was necessary.

In sentencing, Judge Nicola Saffman handed down a substantial prison term of five years and seven months, emphasizing the severe harm caused to the victims. She pointed out the tragic nature of the videos, which included children as young as five being raped or severely abused—some of whom were shown sleeping during the assaults. Judge Saffman underscored that these videos involved real children who had suffered real trauma, and that viewers like Tomos, by consumption of such material, inadvertently support a market that perpetuates the horrific crimes of rape and illegal filming.

Furthermore, the judge ordered that the electronic devices seized from Tomos be destroyed to prevent further misuse. She also reminded the court that Tomos has a lifetime registration as a sex offender, a consequence stemming from his previous convictions, underscoring the ongoing risk he poses to the community.

This case serves as a stark reminder of the persistent danger posed by individuals with a history of sexual offenses, especially when they continue to access and exploit illegal content despite legal restrictions designed to prevent such behavior.