Pontypool Man Sentenced for Possessing 1,550 Child Abuse Images

A PONTYPOOL man was found to have a total of 1,550 indecent images and videos of children stored on his laptop and two hard drives. The police conducted a search of Joseph Bold's address in Pontypool in March 2024, during which they discovered the laptop and hard drives. A detailed investigation revealed 178 indecent images on the Acer laptop and 1372 images and videos on the hard drives, amounting to 821 Category A, 374 Category B, and 352 other indecent images of children. Bold admitted to using Torrent software to download movies, TV shows, and music but claimed he did not intentionally download child pornography. He pleaded guilty to the charges at Cardiff Magistrates Court and was sentenced on 6 February 2025. The court sentenced him to eight months in prison, suspended for 23 months, and ordered him to complete 30 days of rehabilitation, 250 hours of unpaid work, and pay a £200 fine. Additionally, he was ordered to sign the sex offenders register. During his police interview, Bold's defense lawyer explained that he turned to cannabis after a close friend's death during lockdown, which contributed to his behavior. The judge remarked that individuals like Bold are part of the reason the child abuse trade diminishes, highlighting the severity of the offences and the court's response.