November 2010 Three-year order for Caernarfon pensioner who viewed abused boys on internet A 74-YEAR-OLD former teacher who admitted making and distributing images of young boys being sexually abused was given a three-year community order yesterday. Emyr Walter Owen of Rhiw, St David’s Road, Caernarfon, appeared in the dock at Caernarfon Crown Court after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing to a total of 17 charges. Prosecutor Tom Jones said among the 338 images found on Owen’s two computers at a house where he lives with his sister, were ones of boys as young as aged six. The offences came to light after a police search of the house. Mr Jones said Owen, a former Latin teacher at Ysgol Syr Hugh Owen, Caernarfon, claimed: “It was all fantasy and not related to real-life. I wouldn’t do anything like that in real life.” White-haired Owen, who wore a pair of spectacles in court, had also exchanged and distributed some images with a contact in America he’d met on the internet. Mr Jones said Owen was “motivated by curiosity, boredom and loneliness”. Defending, Owen Edwards said: “For the last 18 months he’s had to live with this shame. He’s supported in court by his sister with whom he lives. He fell into temptation because of the internet. He is pleased that the police arrived because that stopped his activities.” A number of local religious leaders had written letters in support of Owen. His Honour Judge Niclas Parry said: “The images showed the sexual abuse of young boys. You were viewing real children.” Judge Parry said Owen who had spent “a life-time in education” had “a craving for human contact”. He said: “In many ways this is an extremely sad case. I accept you behaved out of character.” Sentencing Owen to a three-year community and supervision order, Judge Parry ordered he must remain on the Sexual Offenders Register and not work with children or vulnerable adults. The order prevents Owen from staying in any abode with a child under 18 without an adult or parent present. He was ordered to pay £1,200 court costs and his computers will be destroyed.