JOHN CHESHIRE SENTENCED IN LLANELLI FOR REPEATED OFFENSES INVOLVING CHILD INDECENT IMAGES
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Llanelli Child Sexual Abuser
In October 2013, a man from Llanelli named John Cheshire was sentenced to prison after a disturbing discovery by law enforcement officials revealed he possessed a significant collection of indecent images of children. The case drew considerable attention due to Cheshire's extensive criminal history and the nature of his latest offenses.
John Cheshire, aged 63 and residing on Granby Close in Llanelli, was found to have hidden a mobile phone containing approximately 1,700 indecent images of minors. The police investigation uncovered that Cheshire had taped the device to his groin in an attempt to conceal it from authorities. This act of concealment was part of a broader pattern of criminal behavior that spanned over three decades.
Cheshire's criminal record is long and troubling. His first known sexual offense occurred in 1995 in Scotland, where he was convicted of distributing indecent images. Three years later, he was imprisoned for inciting a child to perform an act of gross indecency on him. Over the years, he accumulated additional convictions for creating indecent images of children and repeatedly breaching court orders. His behavior included standing at school gates, following children in shops, loitering in the children’s section of a library, rubbing his groin in public, and masturbating in front of children playing nearby.
In 2006, Cheshire was sentenced to an indefinite term of imprisonment for public protection, reflecting the severity of his offenses. However, in 2009, the Court of Appeal in London ruled that his potentially lifelong sentence was inappropriate, leading to his automatic release. Despite this, Cheshire continued to offend, and his latest actions prompted a renewed focus on his dangerousness.
During the trial at Swansea Crown Court, prosecutor Kevin Jones detailed Cheshire’s extensive criminal history. He emphasized that Cheshire’s collection of images was organized into three folders on his phone and a memory card, indicating a level of premeditation and organization. The images, which were stored in two separate locations, demonstrated a disturbing pattern of behavior.
Cheshire admitted to charges of failing to produce a device capable of accessing the internet to police and to five counts of making indecent images. The judge, Philip Hughes, described the severity of the case, stating, “You had 1,700 images stored in two different places on the phone itself and the memory card. Also, they were discovered in three folders, demonstrating some level of organization on your part.”
He further explained the gravity of the offense, noting, “The mischief with these offenses of making photographs of children is, as you well only know too well, is that children are abused in order to produce the material to meet the market which people like you provide.” The judge highlighted Cheshire’s repeated violations of court orders and his failure to reform, which contributed to his classification as a dangerous offender.
Referring to a previous incident in 2011 when Cheshire was charged with breaching a sexual offenses order, Judge Hughes stated that at that time, Cheshire was not considered dangerous. However, based on his recent conduct and history, the judge now believed that Cheshire posed a serious risk to children. Consequently, he imposed a four-year prison sentence, accompanied by an extended license period of three years upon release, reflecting the court’s assessment of the ongoing threat Cheshire represents to society.
Detective Constable Helen Kay commented on the case, saying, “Cheshire is a dangerous man who clearly poses a threat to society. We welcome the sentence and hope it offers reassurance to our communities. Not only is this man now off our streets, but our officers will continue to do all they can to bring offenders to justice.”
This case underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat child exploitation and protect vulnerable members of society from repeat offenders like John Cheshire, whose criminal activities have spanned decades and continue to pose a significant danger.
John Cheshire, aged 63 and residing on Granby Close in Llanelli, was found to have hidden a mobile phone containing approximately 1,700 indecent images of minors. The police investigation uncovered that Cheshire had taped the device to his groin in an attempt to conceal it from authorities. This act of concealment was part of a broader pattern of criminal behavior that spanned over three decades.
Cheshire's criminal record is long and troubling. His first known sexual offense occurred in 1995 in Scotland, where he was convicted of distributing indecent images. Three years later, he was imprisoned for inciting a child to perform an act of gross indecency on him. Over the years, he accumulated additional convictions for creating indecent images of children and repeatedly breaching court orders. His behavior included standing at school gates, following children in shops, loitering in the children’s section of a library, rubbing his groin in public, and masturbating in front of children playing nearby.
In 2006, Cheshire was sentenced to an indefinite term of imprisonment for public protection, reflecting the severity of his offenses. However, in 2009, the Court of Appeal in London ruled that his potentially lifelong sentence was inappropriate, leading to his automatic release. Despite this, Cheshire continued to offend, and his latest actions prompted a renewed focus on his dangerousness.
During the trial at Swansea Crown Court, prosecutor Kevin Jones detailed Cheshire’s extensive criminal history. He emphasized that Cheshire’s collection of images was organized into three folders on his phone and a memory card, indicating a level of premeditation and organization. The images, which were stored in two separate locations, demonstrated a disturbing pattern of behavior.
Cheshire admitted to charges of failing to produce a device capable of accessing the internet to police and to five counts of making indecent images. The judge, Philip Hughes, described the severity of the case, stating, “You had 1,700 images stored in two different places on the phone itself and the memory card. Also, they were discovered in three folders, demonstrating some level of organization on your part.”
He further explained the gravity of the offense, noting, “The mischief with these offenses of making photographs of children is, as you well only know too well, is that children are abused in order to produce the material to meet the market which people like you provide.” The judge highlighted Cheshire’s repeated violations of court orders and his failure to reform, which contributed to his classification as a dangerous offender.
Referring to a previous incident in 2011 when Cheshire was charged with breaching a sexual offenses order, Judge Hughes stated that at that time, Cheshire was not considered dangerous. However, based on his recent conduct and history, the judge now believed that Cheshire posed a serious risk to children. Consequently, he imposed a four-year prison sentence, accompanied by an extended license period of three years upon release, reflecting the court’s assessment of the ongoing threat Cheshire represents to society.
Detective Constable Helen Kay commented on the case, saying, “Cheshire is a dangerous man who clearly poses a threat to society. We welcome the sentence and hope it offers reassurance to our communities. Not only is this man now off our streets, but our officers will continue to do all they can to bring offenders to justice.”
This case underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat child exploitation and protect vulnerable members of society from repeat offenders like John Cheshire, whose criminal activities have spanned decades and continue to pose a significant danger.