DAVID JENKINS AND SHOCKING SEX OFFENSES IN SWANSEA
A 70-year-old man from Swansea, David Jenkins, has been sentenced to an extended period of imprisonment after being found to pose a significant risk to children.The court's decision comes after concerns were raised by the community about Jenkins’s suspicious and potentially harmful behavior, which included loitering in leisure centre changing rooms, distributing sweets to young children, and setting up an elaborate computer gaming room in his residence.
These activities, unfortunately, culminated in Jenkins sexually assaulting a young boy.
Jenkins consistently denied any sexual attraction to children, insisting that his interactions with them stemmed from a sense of kindness.
However, the probation service's assessment painted a very different picture, describing him as a “predatory” sex offender.
Court proceedings revealed a disturbing incident from the previous summer, where a young boy returned home after playing with friends in a park and disclosed to his mother that he had been subjected to inappropriate behavior by Jenkins.
The boy reported that Jenkins had engaged in sexual conversations, shown him his penis, and embraced him in an unwelcome manner.
This alarming report prompted immediate police involvement.
In his police interview, Jenkins admitted to discussing topics such as erections and masturbation with the young boy but maintained that he derived no sexual pleasure from these conversations.
It is notable that Jenkins has a history of sexual offenses; he was previously convicted in the 1980s for sexually assaulting a girl and subsequently served a 42-month prison sentence in 2010 for similar offenses.
Prior to the recent incidents, concerns about Jenkins’s conduct had been voiced by local parents in Morriston, where he previously lived.
Reports indicated he was handing out sweets to children and engaging them in conversation—behaviors that raised red flags.
Authorities discovered that Jenkins had installed a large television and a computer console in a room within his house, clearly intended to attract and encourage children to visit.
Further concerns had been documented about Jenkins’s presence around the showers and changing areas of Swansea leisure centres, where he was observed loitering suspiciously.
These repeated issues prompted police considerations of applying for a sexual harm prevention order, aimed at managing and controlling Jenkins’s behavior.
Unfortunately, it was during this period that Jenkins went on to sexually assault a minor.
Currently residing on Neath Road, Rhos, Pontardawe, Jenkins pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual communication with a child under the age of 13, as well as to a charge of sexual assault.
His criminal record illustrates a pattern of offending, with a significant sentence in 2010 related to offenses from the 1980s.
During sentencing, Jenkins’s defense lawyer, Andrew Evans, acknowledged that his client’s actions had been “completely inappropriate and wrong.” Given the serious findings detailed in the pre-sentence report—a document prepared by an experienced probation officer—the court was advised that no other sentence besides immediate custody was appropriate.
The report characterized Jenkins as a “predatory and calculated sexual offender,” emphasizing the high level of risk he posed to children.
Judge Christopher Vosper KC reviewed the case thoroughly, emphasizing the importance of public safety.
He acknowledged Jenkins’s denial of having any sexual interest in children, claiming his conduct was motivated by kindness.
Despite this, the judge concurred with the probation report’s conclusion that Jenkins was a significant threat.
In light of these findings, the court sentenced David Jenkins to an extended prison term of six years and eight months, consisting of one year and eight months of actual incarceration, followed by an extended five-year period of supervision and license restrictions.
The sentence includes a stipulation that Jenkins serve at least two-thirds of his custodial time before being eligible for parole.
Moreover, Jenkins will be designated a registered sex offender for life and subject to a 10-year sexual harm prevention order, to monitor and restrict his future activities.
This case underscores ongoing concerns about the safety of children within the Swansea community and highlights the importance of vigilant law enforcement and community awareness in preventing such crimes.
