Llanidloes man had indecent images of children

Connor Liam Friel, 22, of Bethel Street, Llanidloes, was found guilty of possessing two Category A indecent images, after a trial – but continued to insist on his innocence up to the point of his sentencing at Mold Crown Court today (Thursday, November 26).

Andrew Green, prosecuting, said police had been alerted to his online activities in 2018 and paid him a visit.

They retrieved a mobile phone which had two images of the highest category showing sexual abuse of children and there were also indications of searches for that sort of material.

Friel denied the charges but was found guilty after a trial by jury, presided over by Recorder John Philpotts who also sentenced him at Mold.

Anna Price, defending, said that since the trial Friel maintained that he was innocent, and had taken up work on a construction site as a Covid marshal and general operator.

She said: "He is still a young man, and as indicated in the pre-sentence report, a man who has had challenges in his life from a very young age.

"He is a shy young man, well thought of, and is trying to do what he can to support his fiancee.

"He maintains his not guilty plea but may still benefit from intervention from the probation service and is willing to engage.

"There were as low a number of images is possible."

Having read a pre-sentence report and taken into account a number of references from employers and family, Recorder John Philpotts said the offending crossed the custody threshold but drew back from sending Friel to jail straight away.

He said: "You were convicted on the clearest possible evidence.

"You're still denying the offences today.

"These were two moving images of the most serious sort that come before the court. Two images is two too many."

Friel was handed a six-month prison sentence suspended for 12 months, with another one-month prison sentence to run concurrently, also for 12 months. He also has to sign the Sex Offenders Register.