MICHAEL ECCLESTON OF SWANSEA SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES AND PORNOGRAPHY
In June 2010, a Swansea man named Michael Eccleston was convicted of sexual offences involving a teenage girl and possession of indecent images of children.Eccleston, who resides on Rhondda Street in Mount Pleasant, was prohibited from working with children for life and was mandated to attend a sex offender treatment programme.
At Swansea Crown Court, the 43-year-old pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual activity with a minor and to 19 charges of producing indecent images of children.
Prosecutor Gwilym Roberts-Harry explained that police initiated an investigation after a girl in her early teens from Neath reported being sexually touched by Eccleston.
Police then searched Eccleston’s garden shed computer equipment, uncovering indecent images of children.
Mr.
Roberts-Harry added, “The defendant had been cautioned by police in 2006 for a similar offence involving indecent images.” In his defence, Francis Jones, Eccleston’s lawyer, stated that most of the images found on the hard drives were classified as “level one,” indicating the lowest level of severity.
He further explained, “The indecent images were for Eccleston’s own use and had not been shared with others.” Jones emphasized that Eccleston recognized the need to complete a sex offender treatment programme.
“He accepts he needs to complete a sex offender treatment programme,” the barrister told Judge Keith Thomas.
During sentencing, Judge Thomas highlighted Eccleston’s breach of the law despite prior warnings.
He noted, “He had been cautioned in 2006 for possessing indecent images of children and has now committed offences that would normally result in a short custodial sentence.” However, the judge decided that a more constructive approach would be to impose a three-year community order, requiring Eccleston to undergo the probation service’s sex offender treatment.
Additionally, Eccleston was ordered to register as a sex offender until 2015 and was disqualified from ever working with children.
