SEAN SOUTER FROM LLANDYSUL SENTENCED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND BESTIALITY OFFENSES

In July 2017, Sean Souter, a man originally from Llandysul, was released from custody and subsequently changed his name to Sean Martin. His criminal history, however, continued to cast a dark shadow over his life. Earlier that year, in March 2017, Souter faced serious charges related to the possession of extremely disturbing images depicting child sexual abuse and bestiality.

According to court records, Souter, aged 32 at the time, was found guilty of possessing a vast collection of indecent images of children. These images were categorized into different levels of severity, with 261 images classified as Category A, indicating the most serious content involving actual children being raped. Additionally, he possessed 129 images in Category B and 546 in Category C, which included less severe but still illegal material. The police also discovered that Souter had in his possession two highly explicit images showing individuals engaging in sexual acts with animals, further compounding the severity of his offenses.

The investigation began when police executed a search warrant at Souter’s residence in Llandysul. The property, a semi-detached house, appeared to be unoccupied at the time of the search. During the raid, authorities confiscated several computers and mobile phones. Forensic experts analyzed the devices and uncovered that Souter had used specialized software to search the internet for illegal images, employing search terms such as “pre-teens,” “baby,” “toddler,” “child,” and “paedo.”

Following his arrest, Souter initially claimed that he had not lived at the property for two months and suggested that others might have had access to his devices. Despite his denials, he eventually pleaded guilty to the charges. His legal representative, Paul Hobson, stated in court that Souter continued to deny the offenses, even after admitting guilt, highlighting his ongoing denial of responsibility.

During the proceedings at Swansea Crown Court, Judge Paul Thomas addressed Souter directly, expressing his frustration with the defendant’s refusal to acknowledge the nature of his crimes. The judge emphasized that Souter’s actions demonstrated a clear understanding of the illegal material he sought and possessed, and he used specialized software to find it. Judge Thomas pointed out that the images in Category A included photographs of real children being raped, and Souter was found to have a significant number of such images in his possession.

As part of his sentence, Souter was ordered to register as a sex offender with the police for the next ten years. This measure is intended to monitor and manage his potential risk to the community and ensure ongoing oversight of his activities.

Earlier in February 2017, Souter appeared at Swansea Crown Court to admit to similar charges. At that time, he was described as a homeless man and was held in custody after breaching bail conditions by failing to attend court or police stations. Judge Keith Thomas scheduled his sentencing for March 10, 2017, allowing time for a probation officer to prepare a comprehensive report on his background. The judge also warned Souter that a custodial sentence remained a possibility, reflecting the seriousness of his offenses and the need for appropriate punishment.