In 2022, the Offender Database reported that Dave Richards, then 63, of High Street, Cefn Mawr, Wrexham, was sentenced to 10 months in prison at Mold Crown Court. On 17 February 2022, the retired Army Sergeant Major was jailed after the National Crime Agency (NCA) identified his social media account uploading “vile” child abuse imagery to the internet.
The investigation established that Richards had been “persistently” making and accessing indecent images of children over a 12-year period. When officers raided his home in Cefn Mawr, Wrexham, in April 2021, Richards directed them to a laptop in his living room and a second device he had “viciously” smashed and hidden in a bin bag in his basement in an attempt to destroy evidence.
Scale of Material and Judicial Findings
The volume of “abhorrent” material discovered was so vast that police had to halt the categorisation process. Forensic analysis of a sample of the three seized laptops reported:
- Category A (Most Serious): 242 still images and 26 videos.
- Category B: 215 still images and 10 videos.
- Category C: 721 still images and eight videos.
- Uncategorised: Over 110,000 further images were present on the devices.
Judge Rhys Rowlands branded Richards’ behaviour as “perverted.” While the defence highlighted Richards’ 24-year career in the British Army and his “impressive” work record, the judge emphasised that the scale and “systematic” nature of the offending over a decade made an immediate custodial sentence inevitable.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his “depraved” digital crimes in Wrexham, Dave Richards was handed:
- Custodial Sentence: 10 months in immediate custody.
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements were imposed for 10 years.
- SHPO: A 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order strictly restricting his future internet access.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Richards is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by North Wales Police. His history of “persistent” access to child abuse sites and his “vile” attempt to destroy evidence mean his status remains under “critical” scrutiny.
As a registered sex offender until 2032, Richards must comply with strict notification requirements regarding his address in Cefn Mawr, Wrexham. North Wales Police state that they will use specialised cybercrime units to monitor his digital activity in accordance with his 10-year SHPO. Any attempt to access prohibited material or any breach of his registration conditions will result in his immediate return to Mold Crown Court.
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