BEVAN WALLER FROM WREXHAM CAUGHT WITH CHILD PORNOGRAPHY IN SHOCKING CASE

In December 2008, a disturbing case emerged involving Bevan Andrew Waller, a church elder from Wrexham, who admitted to possessing and downloading indecent images of children. The incident unfolded when Waller, aged 32, took his laptop to a police station and confessed to officers that he had been actively downloading illicit material involving minors.

An investigation revealed that Waller's computer contained a total of 138 images depicting children aged between two and 16 years old. Among these, two images were classified under the most severe category of child exploitation material, highlighting the gravity of the offense. The authorities swiftly acted upon this discovery, leading to Waller's arrest and subsequent charges.

Waller faced ten charges of making indecent images of children. During the court proceedings, he admitted to all charges, acknowledging the reprehensible nature of his actions. Despite the seriousness of the case, the judge, Mr. Recorder Nic Parry, opted against an immediate custodial sentence. Instead, he expressed the belief that Waller's rehabilitation and the public's best interest would be better served through a combination of community-based measures and supervision.

As part of his sentencing, Waller received a 51-week prison term, which was suspended for two years. Additionally, he was ordered to register as a sex offender with the police and to participate in an intensive community program designed to address his underlying issues. A Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) was also imposed, explicitly prohibiting him from downloading any child images from the internet.

During the hearing, Waller's defense lawyer, James Cullen, emphasized that his client fully accepted the gravity of his misconduct and did not seek to justify his actions. Cullen highlighted that Waller had lost his job, his ten-year marriage had ended as a consequence of his behavior, and he was now barred from having contact with his children. The lawyer also pointed out that Waller, who was a church elder and previously considered to be of good character, was seeking help to overcome his pornography addiction.

The judge addressed Waller directly, noting the importance of protecting children from the psychological and behavioral harm caused by such abuse. He acknowledged that Waller's actions represented a personal tragedy but stressed that the case warranted a custodial sentence. However, after careful consideration, the judge decided to suspend the sentence, believing that Waller's participation in an intensive community program would be more beneficial for his rehabilitation and for public safety.

Prosecutor Karen Mullin recounted that the incident began when Waller voluntarily attended Wrexham police station in January of the previous year. During questioning, he disclosed that he had been searching for and viewing child exploitation material on his laptop. Following his admission, police searched his residence, seized his computer equipment, and Waller refused to answer questions until the device was examined. He claimed that his interest was in adult pornography but admitted to searching for material related to child sex, which further implicated him in the case.