LEE GRIFFITHS FROM GWENT SENTENCED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSES IN NEWPORT

A man identified as Lee Griffiths, aged 38 and hailing from Blaina in Gwent, has been convicted and sentenced to prison after a series of disturbing offenses involving child abuse images. The case came to light at Newport Crown Court, where it was revealed that Griffiths had been found in possession of highly illegal and disturbing videos and photographs depicting young girls being raped.

According to court records, Griffiths was caught with a collection of indecent images of children, with the victims estimated to be between the ages of eight and 12. The authorities uncovered that he had been viewing these illicit materials on a cracked iPad, which he had used to access and watch the videos. Furthermore, it was established that Griffiths had sent a message to an online contact expressing a desire for even more explicit and 'dirtier' material, indicating a troubling interest in increasingly severe content. In the same message, he reportedly stated that 'jail time would be worth it,' revealing a reckless attitude towards the consequences of his actions.

During the proceedings, prosecutor Christopher Evans highlighted the disturbing nature of the content, noting that in one of the videos, there was visible pain on the face of one of the young girls, underscoring the severity of the abuse depicted. Griffiths pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing indecent images of children, which included five Category A images—classified as the most serious—comprising three videos and two photographs. In addition, he possessed three Category B images, which included one video and two photographs, as well as two Category C images, both of which were films.

It was also established that Griffiths was in breach of a previously imposed suspended sentence. In March 2022, he had received an eight-week prison sentence, suspended for two years, after being convicted of assaulting an ex-partner. Notably, he had no prior convictions related to sex offenses before these recent charges.

Representing Griffiths, lawyer Paul Hewitt argued that there was no evidence to suggest Griffiths actively searched for the images; rather, he claimed that Griffiths had been sent the illicit material. Hewitt emphasized that Griffiths was willing to cooperate with probation services and participate in a sex offender rehabilitation program, asserting that he was someone who could be rehabilitated.

However, Judge Carl Harrison was unequivocal in his assessment. He stated, 'You had images of children being raped and you are also in breach of a suspended sentence. Only a custodial sentence can be justified.' Consequently, Griffiths was sentenced to 58 weeks in prison. The judge also ordered that Griffiths register as a sex offender for the next ten years and imposed a sexual harm prevention order that will remain in effect until 2034. Additionally, Griffiths was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £156 upon his release from custody, marking the culmination of a case that highlights the ongoing efforts to combat child exploitation and protect vulnerable victims in Gwent and Newport.