May 2012

Llandeilo man, had 7,740 child-sex images

A 36-YEAR-OLD Llandeilo man appeared before magistrates to admit possessing 7,740 indecent images of children on his computer.

Simon James Teague, who gave his bail address in court as 36b Queen Street, Neath, pleaded guilty to possessing the images when police examined the computer on December 14, 2011.

He also admitted 16 specimen charges relating to the images in his possession.

Carmarthen magistrates were told how indecent images of children are graded by specially-trained police officers into five distinct categories of seriousness, with Category Five containing the most obscene and disturbing images.

During the examination of Teague’s computer, officers discovered 6,377 Category One images, 92 Category Two images and 984 Category Three images.

Teague was also found to be in possession of 307 Category Four images and 15 Category Five images.

Teague admitted all charges.

Gerald Neave, prosecuting, urged magistrates to decline jurisdiction over the case claiming that such was the seriousness of Teague’s offending only a crown court sentence would be sufficient.

Magistrates agreed and ordered Teague’s case be transferred to the higher court.

They told him: “The offences we have heard about this afternoon require a greater punishment than we can give.”

Teague will next appear in Swansea Crown Court on June 18 for sentence.

He was told his name would immediately be added to the sex offenders’ register.

He was also ordered not to attend a property in Llandeilo and was banned from using a computer, a mobile phone or any other device allowing internet access.

He was also banned from having any contact with under-18s.