ROBERT UMNEY FROM PARC THOMAS SHOCKS CARMARTHEN WITH CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSES

In January 2017, a disturbing case emerged involving Robert Charles Umney, a man with longstanding ties to the Carmarthen community, specifically the Parc Thomas area. Umney, aged 44, who had served as a Scout leader for over two decades with the 1st Carmarthen Scout Group, faced serious allegations related to the possession and creation of indecent images of minors.

Authorities acted swiftly after receiving credible information suggesting that Umney might have been involved in downloading illicit material at his residence. A police warrant was executed at his home in Parc Thomas, leading to a thorough search of his property. During the search, officers observed Umney requesting permission to use the toilet, which he did under supervision. It was during this moment that officers noticed he was concealing an SD card, which was subsequently confiscated.

Further examination revealed that the SD card contained a total of 77 indecent images of boys aged between three and 16, all created between January 6 and February 22 of the previous year. The police also seized two additional devices from his home — a computer and an HP laptop — both of which were found to contain similar illicit images involving children.

Following his arrest, Umney was taken to the police station, where he provided a detailed, prepared statement. In this statement, he admitted to downloading the images onto the SD card and accepted full responsibility for his actions. His admissions confirmed that he was the sole individual responsible for the possession of these illegal images.

It was noted during the court proceedings that Umney had no prior criminal record, which was considered during sentencing. The prosecution requested the forfeiture of all electronic equipment used in the commission of the offense, including the SD card, the computer, and the laptop.

During the hearing at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court, defense counsel John Allchurch emphasized Umney’s otherwise good character and expressed remorse for his actions. He highlighted the distress and embarrassment caused by the arrest and court appearance, noting that the media coverage itself served as a form of punishment. Allchurch urged the court to consider the remorse shown by Umney and the unwelcome nature of the charges.

Ultimately, the court sentenced Umney to 16 weeks in prison, suspended for two years, and ordered him to complete 100 hours of unpaid community service. Additionally, he was subjected to a rehabilitation activity requirement aimed at addressing his behavior. A court order was also issued to confiscate all electronic devices involved, including the SD card, computer, and laptop.

Furthermore, a sexual harm prevention order was imposed, which will remain in effect until January 2022. This order prohibits Umney from possessing any device capable of recording or storing images without notifying his police or probation officer within three days of acquisition. The order also restricts him from using any device capable of recording or storing images unless it can display a history of recordings, which must be made available for police inspection upon request.