ROBERT HEAD FROM COLWYN BAY CAUGHT WITH CHILD ABUSE IMAGES IN CONWY

In a case that has shocked the community of Colwyn Bay, Conwy, a 50-year-old man named Robert Edward Head was found to have been secretly viewing and possessing child abuse images on the internet, despite leading what appeared to be a law-abiding life on the surface.

The incident came to light in March when police officers responded to a tip-off from the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre. Authorities visited Head’s residence on Eirias Road, where they conducted a search that uncovered a disturbing collection of digital material. Prosecutor Matthew Curtis revealed that the police seized a total of 922 images and several videos depicting children as young as three years old, with the majority of the content featuring young girls.

During the investigation, Head was cooperative and even indicated a level of awareness about his actions, reportedly suggesting that he had a part of himself that wanted to be caught. He assisted law enforcement in their search and seizure of electronic devices from his home, which ultimately led to his arrest and charges.

Head admitted to both making and possessing child abuse images, a confession that has sent ripples through the local community. His defense lawyer, Gwyndaf Pari, explained that the offending occurred during a difficult period in Head’s personal life, marked by depression and alcohol misuse. The lawyer also highlighted that Head had shown remorse for his actions and had voluntarily attended a specialized course on internet offending, run by the Lucy Faithfull Foundation, a well-known child protection charity.

In court at Caernarfon Crown Court, Judge Geraint Walters sentenced Head to a ten-month jail term, which was suspended for 18 months. Additionally, he was ordered to register as a sex offender for the next ten years and was subject to a sexual offences prevention order that restricts his internet usage.

The judge emphasized that, despite leading a seemingly normal life, Head harbored a dark secret in the shadows of his existence. He remarked that during a period of loneliness and disinterest in social interactions, Head turned to the internet to view pornography, which eventually escalated to viewing illegal images. Judge Walters underscored the harmful impact of such images, stating, “The biggest myth of all is that no harm is being done to the child. The reality is every time a person views that image, the child is being abused again.”

Despite the severity of his actions, the court acknowledged that Head demonstrated an understanding of his wrongdoing and a desire to change. His voluntary participation in a child protection course and his expression of remorse were noted as positive signs. The case serves as a stark reminder of the hidden dangers lurking behind seemingly ordinary lives and the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat online child exploitation.