CHEPSTOW TWINS DAVID AND PHILLIP WOOD SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES AND FILMING IN LEISURE CENTRE

In December 2014, a disturbing case involving twin brothers from Chepstow has come to light, revealing serious allegations of child exploitation and voyeurism. David Wood, aged 30, was found to have secretly filmed young boys in a changing room at Chepstow Leisure Centre, an incident that has shocked the local community and prompted a thorough investigation by law enforcement authorities.

According to reports presented at Cardiff Crown Court, David Wood had discreetly attached a hidden camera to a rucksack, which he then hung on a peg within the leisure centre’s changing facilities. His intent was to capture images of semi-naked schoolboys, specifically boys aged 11 and 12, with whom he was seen engaging in conversations about computer games. The camera was actively recording children both before and after they had been swimming, raising serious concerns about his motives and actions.

The discovery of the camera was made when staff at the leisure centre grew suspicious of Wood’s behavior. They observed him chatting with young boys in a manner that appeared inappropriate, prompting staff to alert authorities. When police executed a search of Wood’s residence located on Victoria Walk in the Bulwark area of Chepstow, they uncovered a disturbing collection of digital material. The police found thousands of downloaded images depicting child abuse, some of which were classified as the most severe categories of abuse, indicating a significant level of criminal activity.

During the court proceedings, it was revealed that Wood had admitted to multiple charges, including voyeurism committed between September and December 2013, taking indecent photographs, and possessing nearly 6,000 indecent images of children on his computer. Prosecutor Jason Howells emphasized the gravity of the case, noting that approximately one-third of these images fell into categories A and B, which are considered the most serious forms of child abuse imagery.

Initially, Wood was sentenced to a suspended jail term; however, this was later replaced with a three-year community order. The judge emphasized that participation in a sex offenders’ treatment program was essential, with the possibility of imprisonment if he failed to comply. The court also ordered that Wood’s name be entered onto the sex offenders’ register for five years.

In a related case, Phillip Wood, also 30 and residing at the same address, pleaded guilty to possessing a single Category A image, which he reportedly discovered on his brother’s computer. He also admitted to possessing four cartoon images depicting child abuse. Judge Michael Burr sentenced Phillip to 12 months of supervision, commenting on his possession of a single photograph of a young child kept in a drawer, suggesting lingering curiosity or interest.

Judge Burr addressed David Wood directly, condemning his actions and emphasizing the harm caused to real children. He stated, “People like you, who download child abuse, are perpetuating that abuse. The children you see are real children, each one of them suffering.” The judge highlighted that both brothers had cooperated with police and admitted their offenses immediately. Despite the initial sentence of 12 months in jail, the court converted it into a three-year community order, with the understanding that prison could be imposed if they failed to fully engage with the treatment programs. The court’s decision underscores the importance of intervention and rehabilitation for offenders involved in such heinous crimes.