The Offender Database reported that David Wood, a Cardiff Paedophile Sex Offender, a retired teaching assistant who acquired and disseminated photographs of child abuse, attempted to assert that the images were not indecent during a police interview.
On September 5 of the previous year, police visited the residence of David Wood, 69, in Cardiff, where they confiscated and examined an iPad. The investigation led to the identification of 12 category A indecent photos and four category B indecent images, downloaded between 2023 and 2024.
A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday revealed that the photos and videos portrayed minors aged between eight and fifteen years old.
In his police interrogation, David Wood stated that he did not regard the photos as indecent.
He stated that he was drawn to males aged over 14 years and assumed the children depicted in the photographs were between 15 and 16 years old. The defendant stated he “was unaware” that the photos were unlawful.
David Wood, residing on Hunter Street in Butetown, Cardiff, Wales, subsequently admitted guilt to two charges of possessing obscene pictures of minors.
The court was informed that he had no prior convictions.
During sentencing, District Judge Hayes stated: “This has caused me significant concern, primarily due to your involvement in the distribution of indecent images.”
“During the interview, you made unsettling remarks indicating that you did not perceive the images as indecent, yet you acknowledged the offences.”
The judge stated that there was a “realistic prospect of rehabilitation” in the defendant’s case, primarily due to his prior good character.
David Wood received a 40-week prison sentence, which was suspended for a period of two years.
The defendant was imposed with a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement, sex offender notification obligations, and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order with a duration of 10 years.
David Wood was additionally mandated to remit £85 in costs and a £154 victim surcharge.
Image Credit: Media Wales
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