Indecent pics man gave police wrong passwords

A MAN caught with indecent images of children on several devices at his Port Talbot home gave police incorrect passwords when they tried to gain access.

Dad-of-one David Loft, who Swansea Crown Court heard has “serious sexual problems”, was found to have a combined 114 pictures on his digital devices.

But since his offending, he has voluntarily sought help for his problems, which was enough to convince a court not to impose an immediate prison term.

The court heard how police officers visited Loft’s then St Mary’s Street home on October 22 last year to execute a search warrant. He answered the door, shortly after joined by his partner, and a number of digital devices were seized, which were protected by Samsung security applications.

Loft provided police with several different incorrect passwords, and prosecutor Sophie Hill told the court police felt he made an attempt to delete images, pressing the button ‘select all’ before the device was removed from him.

Officers eventually gained access after Loft used his fingerprint to unlock the devices.

Indecent images of children were found on three of them, 67 from category A, the most serious, 19 from category B and 28 from category C. There was also an extreme pornographic video discovered. The 38-year-old, of previous clean character, gave a no comment interview to police.

The Citrine Close, Sandfields, Port Talbot resident appeared at Swansea Crown Court for sentencing having pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children between January 3, 2013 and September 10, 2019, and possessing an extreme pornographic image between August 1, 2018 and September 10, 2019.

Giles Hayes, mitigating, said: “He is a working man and has been his entire adult life.

“It is quite clear he has an unhealthy obsession with pornography which has led him here.

“He has since paid £800 out of his own pocket to take part in a programme in Leeds. Straight after his wrongdoing he has done everything he can to remedy his long-standing problems.”

Sentencing Loft, Judge Paul Thomas said: “It is clear to me you have serious sexual problems.

“It may be that in contrast to many you recognise that fact. You also appear to recognise these are real victims.

“It’s right to say, as Mr Hayes has stressed, you have taken voluntary steps to get help.”

Judge Thomas sentenced Loft to eight months in prison, suspended for two years.

He must complete 150 hours unpaid work and take part in a 45-day rehabilitation activity requirement.