Pervert’s jail term is slashed by judge

A DISABLED paedophile who was jailed when he was again found with indecent images of children has seen his sentence slashed after judges said he is not a danger to children.

Christopher Wyn Jones, 61, of Tonypandy, already had a long list of convictions for indecent image offences when he was arrested again last year.

Investigation of his iPad revealed two films involving young girls, while he had also been contacting children online.

Jones, of High Street, Clydach Vale, admitted possessing indecent images and two counts of breaching a sexual offences prevention order.

In January, he was jailed for five years, with another five to serve on extended licence, at Southwark Crown Court, in London.

But his likely time behind bars was slashed yesterday after appeal judges said it was wrong to say Jones is “dangerous”.

Although he has an unhealthy interest in young girls, he suffers from a Parkinson’s Disease-like degenerative condition and is confined to a wheelchair.

It means that, although he had been contacting girls online, he could not possibly have gone beyond that and met them in person, his lawyers said.

Lord Justice Hamblen said the Crown Prosecution Service accepted that the crown court judge was wrong to find Jones to be a significant risk of serious harm.

“He is wheelchair-bound and that is relevant to any consideration of dangerousness,” said the appeal judge.

“He is not mobile and, therefore, the prospects of any contact offence is minimised.

“We accept that the evidence arising out of this offending was not sufficient to justify the finding of dangerousness made by the judge.”

The judge, sitting with Sir John Royce and Judge Martyn Zeidman QC, quashed the extended licence portion of the sentence.

The effect is that Jones will be released on licence after serving two-and-a-half years in prison, rather than potentially double that.

However, the appeal judge said the court was not prepared to bring forward Jones’ release date any further.

The total sentence was reduced to a conventional determinate term of five years, of which Jones will serve half.