July 2020

Housemates shared vile collection of child abuse images

Two housemates were caught with hundreds of images of child abuse which they had been sharing between themselves.

Jason Davies and Jake Duncombe were found to have Category A, B, and C indecent images as well as extreme pornography on various electronic devices.

Sentencing the pair at Cardiff Crown Court, Judge Richard Twomlow said: “There are victims. Anybody who downloads these images is supporting that. They are serious offences.”

Emma Harris, prosecuting, said the police searched a property at Newby Court in Cardiff Bay on July 23 last year.

The court heard Davies opened the door and officers seized devices including a phone, hard drive, laptop, and tablet.

Indecent pictures and videos were found at the most serious Category A, as well as Categories B and C, plus extreme pornographic images. There was evidence to show the pair were distributing the material between themselves.

Duncombe said to an officer: “Yes, I viewed them before, but I don’t view them now. I have not viewed them for a long time.”

Both defendants were arrested and taken to Cardiff Bay Police Station where they were interviewed.

Duncombe provided a prepared statement accepting possession and distribution of the images. Davies accepted possession but denied distribution. Neither of them had any previous convictions

Davies, 50, from Glanlay Street in Penrhiwceiber, Mountain Ash, admitted possessing extreme pornography and possessing and distributing indecent images of children.

Duncombe, 48, from the same address, admitted possessing extreme pornography, possessing prohibited images, possessing and distributing indecent images of children.

Judge Twomlow described the material as “disgusting” and reminded the defendants the children would have suffered as the images were made. 

He noted the distribution was limited to between themselves and there was no evidence they were sharing it more widely otherwise he would have sent them straight to prison.

The judge said they had not been in trouble before and he could suspend the sentence in the circumstances.

They were each given an 18-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered to complete up to 30 sessions of the Horizon sex offender programme.

Duncombe was ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work. Davies is not able to complete unpaid work and was ordered to comply with a nine-month curfew.

They must each pay £210 costs and register as sex offenders for 10 years and the judge made indefinite sexual harm prevention orders.