On Thursday, 21 March 2019, the Offender Database reported that Francis Anthony Duncan, then 67, of Wern, Caia Park, Wrexham, was jailed for 32 months at Mold Crown Court. Duncan was sentenced for possessing a massive collection of nearly 30,000 images and videos showing infants and children being abused.
The investigation by North Wales Police began in September 2018 when officers visited Duncan’s home. When asked if he possessed illegal material, he dishonestly attempted to downplay his actions despite having software specifically designed to access the “dark web” anonymously.
Horrific Material and Repeated Breaches
The court reported that the collection included thousands of the most serious category A images, some showing infants as young as six months old. Other photos depicted children being restrained and abused. Duncan also possessed extreme images involving bestiality and was found to be in breach of his existing Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) by using prohibited file-sharing software and anonymous browsers.
Judge David Hale emphasised that Duncan appeared to be an “irredeemable addict” to this material. He noted that children had suffered immensely to create the images for Duncan’s gratification and told him he should be thoroughly ashamed.
Sentence and Lifetime Registration
Duncan had previously admitted to the charges at the magistrates’ court. For his crimes in Wrexham, Francis Anthony Duncan was:
- Sentenced to 32 months in prison.
- Ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.
- Subjected to a continued Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
The charges included making indecent images at categories A, B, and C, possessing prohibited and extreme images, and two breaches of his SHPO.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Duncan is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by North Wales Police. His residency in Caia Park, Wrexham, remains under lifelong scrutiny.
As a repeat offender who has shown a willingness to bypass court orders using specialist software, his digital activity is subject to strict monitoring. Any attempt to access prohibited areas of the internet or possess unauthorised devices will result in his immediate arrest. North Wales Police emphasise that they use advanced forensic tools to track those who believe they can hide their activity on the dark web.
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