Powys man facing child sex offence charges at crown court

Callum Walker, 22, has been charged with 10 offences in total. They include sexual assault on a female child, engaging in sexual activity with a child, possessing indecent images of children, as well as possessing an extreme pornographic image of an animal.

Walker, of Caenbrook Meadow, Presteigne, appeared at Llandrindod Wells Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, July 19, where he entered no pleas. He spoke only to confirm his name, age and address.

His case was sent immediately to the higher court as some of the charges can only be heard there.

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The incidents are alleged to have taken place between December 1, 2018, and September 20, 2021, in Presteigne and Llandrindod.

Walker is charged with two offences of sexual assault on a child, aged 13, on September 20, 2021. He faces four charges of engaging in sexual activity with a child, aged 13-15, between June 6 and September 9, 2021.

Two offences of engaging in sexual communication with a child are alleged to have taken place between December 1, 2018, and January 11, 2020.

He also is alleged to have been in possession of two Category C images of a child (Category A is the most serious) between May 23 and August 9, 2021; and between the same dates is said to have been in possession of one pornographic image involving a dog.

Two of the sexual activity with a child charges can only be heard at the crown court, while the other eight can be heard either there or in the lower court, but magistrates on Wednesday said they believed all matters should go to the crown court.

Walker is due to appear at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on August 16.