ELWYN DURANT OF LLANDRINDOD WELLS JAILED FOR POSSESSING OVER 20,000 CHILD ABUSE IMAGES

In a case that has shocked the community of Llandrindod Wells, Elwyn Durant, a 60-year-old man, has been sentenced to prison after police uncovered a staggering collection of indecent images of children on his personal devices. The investigation revealed that Durant had amassed a total of 20,582 such images, including videos, during a search conducted at his residence on May 9 of the previous year.

Durant, who resides on Beaufort Road in Llandrindod Wells, appeared before Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court to admit to possessing these illicit materials. Prosecutor John Lloyd detailed the extent of the discovery, emphasizing that the images were stored across various media, with a significant number classified at the more severe levels four and five. Specifically, authorities found 1,249 images at level four and 119 at level five, indicating a high degree of seriousness and potential harm.

The court was informed that Durant had utilized a file recovery program to access these images, which were stored on older USB sticks. Durant claimed that these devices had been returned to him by police, asserting that the images were not newly acquired but rather existing files he had previously stored. Defense lawyer John Ryan clarified that there was no evidence of new downloads onto the computer, and that the images were old, existing files rather than recent acquisitions.

Further background revealed that Durant had a prior criminal record related to similar offenses. He had previously served time in prison, including a three-year sentence handed down in London in 2006, and a six-year extended sentence at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court. These prior convictions underscored a pattern of offending behavior.

Judge Neil Bidder QC sentenced Durant to 32 months in prison. In his remarks, the judge condemned the defendant’s actions, stating, “You perpetuated and recovered images from existing media and had them in your possession.” The judge also referenced the pre-sentence report, describing it as “depressing reading,” and expressed concern over Durant’s refusal to acknowledge the sexual motivation behind his collection of images. This lack of insight was seen as a barrier to rehabilitation.

As part of his sentence, Durant is now required to register as a sex offender for life and is subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order until further notice. Additionally, he was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £120, reflecting the court’s recognition of the harm caused by his actions.