MAN JAILED FOR ABDUCTING AND DRUGGING TEENAGE GIRL & MAKING INDECENT IMAGES OF CHILDREN
Richard Knight, aged 73 from Pendine, Carmarthenshire, has been sentenced to three years and nine months in prison after admitting to charges including the abduction of a teenage girl, producing indecent images of children, and being involved in drug supply.Dyfed-Powys Police responded in the early hours of Monday 11 April 2022 after a worried mother contacted them about her 15-year-old daughter’s welfare.
The girl had called her mother distressed, stating she wanted to return home after taking drugs at Knight’s residence.
Police arrived at the property but were unable to get a response.
Concerned for the girl’s safety, officers forced entry and discovered a small cannabis cultivation setup but no individuals inside.
Further investigation revealed that Knight had used his vehicle to take the girl back home.
Knight later returned to his residence, where he was arrested on suspicion of drink driving, possessing cannabis for sale, and supplying cannabis to the teenage girl.
A subsequent search of Knight’s home uncovered additional controlled drugs believed to be for personal use, alongside several digital devices.
During police interviews, the victim stated she had agreed to meet Knight but believed he was aware she was only 15 and that she wouldn’t disclose her whereabouts to her mother.
The girl described being given various drugs, some of which she said were supplied in the form of a fruit pastel.
CCTV footage confirmed that Knight was seen purchasing fruit pastels from a local shop before collecting the girl and driving her to his house.
Forensic analysis of the seized drugs and electronic devices uncovered 1,101 illegal images on Knight’s devices, including 122 classified as Category A, representing the most serious images.
Drug experts valued the cannabis crop at his home between £6,000 and £20,000.
Authorities also confiscated six different types of Class A drugs from the premises.
After a lengthy investigation, Knight faced a total of 12 charges, such as child abduction, possession of indecent images of children, and drug supply concerns.
Knight pleaded guilty to the drug-related charges on 10 April 2025, and in a subsequent hearing on 12 May 2025, admitted to producing indecent images of children.
He denied the child abduction charge, with a trial scheduled for 12 January 2026 at Swansea Crown Court.
However, just prior to the trial, Knight change his plea to guilty.
He was sentenced to serve three years and nine months in prison.
