‘One ofWales’ most wanted’ held in Spain over child sex images
AMAN who failed to appear in court seven years ago over allegations of distributing images of child abuse has been arrested on similar charges in Spain.
Simon Matthew Dove was described as “one of the most wanted sex offenders in Wales” by Spanish police after being held on the Costa del Sol on suspicion of distributing child abuse images.
South Wales Police said they were liaising with Spanish police following the arrest of the 46 year old from Port Talbot.
A police spokesman said: “South Wales Police is liaising with the Spanish law enforcement authorities following the arrest of a man wanted in the UK.
“Simon Matthew Dove, 46, from Port Talbot, failed to appear at court in 2010 for offences relating to possession/distribution indecent images.
“It would be inappropriate to comment further until the extradition process has been completed.”
He is expected to be dealt with for his alleged offences in Spain before facing extradition back to Britain.
The arrest was made as part of an operation called Operacion TITAN II, led by an international crime-fighting force including the FBI, which has resulted in the detention of dozens of alleged sex offenders around the world.
As well as Dove, Civil Guard officers held a Spaniard in the Galician city of Pontevedra.
The two men are alleged to have of distributed child abuse to more than 1,000 people worldwide.
A spokesman for the Spanish police force said that they were facing allegations of using private networks to distribute “files consisting of audio-visual material with abuse of children”.
He alleged: “They facilitated access to their shared files, consisting of audio-visual material with abuse of children. Finding this person was complex because he didn’t have a fixed abode and the place he was living in didn’t appear on any official register.”
It is understood the arrest took place on a residential estate near the resort of Manilva – a short drive west of the Costa del Sol holiday spot of Estepona.
Officers say he was living with a younger British woman described as his partner.