GRAHAM THOMAS AND SHOCKING CHILD ABUSE IMAGES IN PEMBROKE AND MILFORD HAVEN

A man named Graham Thomas has been sentenced to prison after being found guilty of possessing and distributing a large collection of indecent images involving children, including some as young as 18 months old, in Pembroke and nearby Milford Haven. This case uncovered disturbing evidence of the extent of his online activities and the serious nature of the offenses committed.

According to court reports, Thomas, a 58-year-old man, was arrested in November 2020 when police executed a search warrant at his Pembroke residence, which he shared with his mother. During the search, officers seized his laptops, mobile phones, and tablet devices. An initial examination of these electronic devices revealed the presence of indecent materials. A thorough search later uncovered a staggering total of 1,244 images and videos depicting children being sexually abused.

The material found on Thomas’s devices was classified into different categories based on the severity of the abuse. Among the items recovered were 298 images categorized as Category A, which contain the most serious forms of abuse, including rape. Authorities also identified ten extreme pornographic images. The children featured in these images and videos were estimated to be as young as 18 months old, highlighting the horrific nature of the material.

Additionally, four photographs taken by Thomas himself were classified as Category C indecent images. These included images he directly captured through photography. Beyond the images, police discovered online chat logs where Thomas engaged in conversations discussing his sexual fantasies involving children. He also shared a small number of these indecent images with other individuals involved in similar criminal behavior, known as paedophiles.

One particularly disturbing detail revealed during investigations involved Thomas creating what is described as a 'tribute-style' photograph. This involved an image showing a young girl’s underwear, taken from beneath her skirt. Thomas then placed his erect penis next to the picture and took a photograph of it on his laptop screen. This act demonstrated his deliberate gratification derived from his illicit interests.

Graham Thomas, formerly residing in Hakin, Milford Haven, and later at Colley Court in Monkton, Pembroke, pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including possession of indecent images in categories A, B, and C, as well as distributing and taking indecent images and possessing extreme pornographic material. It was also noted that he has previous convictions dating back some years, including offences such as drink-driving and battery.

His defense lawyer, John Allchurch, acknowledged the seriousness of Thomas’s crimes and conveyed that his client expressed genuine remorse. The lawyer explained that Thomas, who previously worked as a security guard at an oil refinery, had spent extended periods alone. This solitude reportedly led him to develop an interest in online pornography, which escalated to viewing increasingly extreme material.

Following his arrest, Thomas faced the devastating consequences of his actions—losing his family, friends, housing, and social standing in the community. The judge, Paul Thomas QC, addressed the court, stating that Thomas had spent roughly five or six years engaging with appalling and stomach-churning material. The judge emphasized the reality that the children depicted in the images were real victims suffering horrible abuse, which individuals like Thomas sought to exploit for sexual pleasure.

Given the gravity of the offenses and in accordance with sentencing guidelines, the court imposed a prison term of 28 months, taking into account a one-third reduction for Thomas’s guilty pleas. He is expected to serve up to half of that time in custody before being released on license, with the remainder to be served within the community. Additionally, Thomas was sentenced to be a registered sex offender for the next ten years and was placed under a sexual harm prevention order for the same period, ensuring ongoing supervision and restrictions designed to protect the public from further harm.