ELIZABETH RAWLEY FROM BLAENAU FFESTINIOG JAILED FOR CHILD ABUSE AND PORNOGRAPHY

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Blaenau Ffestiniog, Elizabeth Joanna Rawley, formerly known as John Owain Rawley, has been sentenced to prison for serious child abuse and possession of indecent images of children. The court proceedings, held at Mold Crown Court, revealed the extent of Rawley's criminal behavior and the betrayal of trust involved in the case.

Rawley, aged 41 and originally from Rhiwbryfdir in Blaenau Ffestiniog, was convicted of making a vulnerable 12-year-old girl watch explicit material involving children. The court heard that Rawley, who has undergone gender reassignment, admitted to possessing numerous indecent images of minors, including videos and photographs depicting severe sexual abuse.

The judge, Merfyn Hughes, sentenced Rawley to two years and eight months in prison. Additionally, Rawley will be detained in a specialized facility designated for vulnerable offenders, reflecting the seriousness of his crimes. As part of his sentence, he was also placed on the sex offenders register, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities.

Prosecutor Matthew Curtis explained that the young girl confided in Rawley about her own experiences of sexual abuse by another individual, which had been recorded on video. Rawley was the first person she trusted enough to disclose this information. However, instead of providing support, Rawley betrayed her trust by repeatedly forcing her to watch child pornography, including five videos that depicted sexual acts and mistreatment involving very young children.

The investigation intensified when police executed a search warrant in February of the previous year, uncovering child pornography stored on a computer belonging to Rawley's friend. During this search, authorities discovered additional illicit material on Rawley's own hard drive. The evidence included a total of 172 still images, among which four were classified as level four, indicating extremely serious sexual abuse. Furthermore, 18 videos were recovered, with ten of these showing the second most severe category of sexual abuse.

Rawley's involvement in internet pornography offenses was initially addressed in magistrates court, where he pleaded guilty. Following this, Gwynedd Social Services reported that the young girl had made a formal complaint against him, revealing that Rawley had engaged in a sexual act in her presence. The case proceeded to trial, but Rawley chose to admit guilt on the first day.

Defense lawyer Sion Ap Mihangel explained that Rawley had downloaded the pornography in an attempt to find footage involving his young friend, suggesting a troubled mental state. Despite this, Judge Hughes was unequivocal in his remarks, stating that Rawley's actions had caused significant distress and harm to the young girl. The judge emphasized that Rawley had added to her trauma by forcing her to watch disturbing images, including those involving penetrative activity with a child. The court also noted that Rawley was aware of her presence during his sexual activity, further aggravating his culpability.

Judge Hughes concluded by criticizing Rawley's lack of remorse and understanding of the harm inflicted. He acknowledged Rawley's emotional instability and gender reassignment issues but stressed that these factors did not excuse his behavior. Rawley was reminded that he would remain on the sex offenders register for the foreseeable future, reflecting the gravity of his crimes and the ongoing risk he poses to the community of Blaenau Ffestiniog.