Ex-political consultant admits indecent images
AFORMER top political consultant has admitted making and distributing indecent images of children.
Daran Hill, 52, played a significant role in two Welsh devolution referendum campaigns.
Asked outside court where the conviction leaves his career, he told reporters: “Where the f*** do you think my career is?”
Hill, a former Welsh Conservatives adviser and ex-director of lobbying company Positif Politics, appeared at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court yesterday and pleaded guilty to the following offences, all of which took place in the Welsh capital:
Between August 7 and August 21, 2021, distributing five category A (the most serious category) indecent images of a child;
Between August 7 and August 21, 2021, distributing five category A indecent images of a child;
Between January 11, 2017, and August 25, 2021, making eight category A indecent images of a child;
Between January 11, 2017, and August 25, 2021, making four category B indecent images of a child; and
Between July 11, 2017, and August 25, 2021, making 50 category C indecent images of a child.
District Judge Steve Harmes said the case would be adjourned to June 6 at Cardiff Crown Court because he had insufficient sentencing powers.
Hill, previously of Bridge Street, in Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, said he has no fixed address but has been staying with a friend in Llangyfelach, Swansea.
Prosecutor Rose Glanville then asked that he be remanded in custody ahead of the next court date, arguing there were grounds to suspect Hill would commit further offences or fail to surrender.
The judge pointed to Hill in the dock and said to Ms Glanville: “Well look – there he is. There was a letter written to him and he’s here.
“Has he ever failed to surrender before? No. That ground is worthless then, isn’t it? What’s the next one?”
The prosecutor said a custodial sentence was unavoidable but the judge replied that this was “not true at all”.
Ms Glanville continued: “The defendant has exhibited behaviours where he stops [offending] and, using a colloquial term, has not been able to help himself.
“He has re-opened accounts repeatedly and encouraged others to do so... This cannot reasonably be policed. Should he not be remanded in custody until sentencing, there would be a substantial risk of further offences.”
Judge Harmes pointed out that police could go to Hill’s home and check his electronic device at any time.
The judge added: “He is of clean character, he’s 52 years of age, and he’s been released under investigation for a couple of years.
“He’s never failed to surrender, never failed to turn up to a police station when he’s been asked, and today appears on a postal requisition... I don’t think for one second he won’t turn up to crown court.
“Anything he may or may not do that may amount to an offence would cause extreme difficulty for him in the crown court.”
Hill was granted bail on the conditions that he stays each night at the Llangyfelach address, has no contact with children, and adheres to restrictions on the use of electronic devices.
He was national organiser of the Yes for Wales campaign for the devolution referendum in 1997 then campaign director of the Yes campaign in the 2011 vote on giving the assembly primary legislative powers.
The former Labour Party member later joined the Conservatives and in 2020 said he offered his “services and loyalty” to the party.
Hill was managing director at Positif, which advised companies seeking to lobby Welsh politicians.
National Crime Agency officers arrested Hill in August 2021 and the following month he resigned as director of the company, which was renamed Camlas later that year.