A COLLEGE student who was found to have an indecent image of the most serious type on his mobile has been spared jail.

Taisan Williams, of Heol Bathafarn in Coedpoeth, appeared at Wrexham Magistrates Court for sentence on Tuesday.

The 22-year-old had previously been convicted of making an indecent image of a child, possessing a prohibited image of a child and possessing extreme pornography - the offences taking place in Wrexham between September 2019 and June 2020.

Justin Espie, prosecuting, said that on July 21, police executed a warrant at his house and a number of his devices were seized for analysis.

As a result, one indecent image at category A (the most serious category) was found on his phone, as were two prohibited images and 11 extreme pornographic images.

The children depicted were aged from four to ten, Mr Espie told the court, and evidence showed he had used "multiple methods of browsing" the images.

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There were also a number of files "indicative of an interest in child sexual abuse," the court heard.

Mr Espie said the defendant's devices also showed use of "cleaning software" designed to delete web browsing history.

Stephen Edwards, defending, told the court that based on the sentencing guidelines and by the standards of such cases which come before the courts, the number of unlawful images in his client's case was "very low."

He said his client was a young man who had a "serious problem," adding: "His early years were troubled.

"He is a lonely young man who spent most of his time in his bedroom."

Mr Edwards said the defendant's father had encouraged him to re-enlist at college, which he now has, and that Williams had also engaged with The Lucy Faithfull Foundation, an organisation working to prevent child sexual abuse.

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"There is a willingness to change," he added.

Deputy District Judge Gerallt Jones drew back from immediate custody - handing down a 26 week term of imprisonment, but suspending it for two years.

He ordered the defendant to attend 40 sessions on an accredited programme and 45 days of rehabilitation activity - in addition to 50 hours of unpaid work.

The defendant was also ordered to pay costs of £85 and a £128 victim surcharge.

He was made subject to the notification provisions of the Sexual Offences Act for seven years, and was made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order for the same period.

 

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