November 2015 Child sexual abuse images found on computer A Cardigan man used his wife’s computer as well as his own to access child abuse images websites, a judge heard today. Nicholas James Smith, aged 44, used a sophisticated “data destruction” programme to eliminate images. But technical experts working for the police were still able to find 33 indecent images in the most serious category A, 53 in category B and 220 in category C. Smith, of Erwlas, Parcllyn, admitted possessing indecent images of children. Kevin Jones, prosecuting, told Swansea crown court the collection included images of men having sex with girls as young as four or five years of age. Mr Jones said police had seized an Acer laptop, an external hard drive and a memory stick belonging to Smith and an Acer laptop belonging to his wife. The images had been found on the memory stick. Mr Jones said the computers had been sent to experts in Cambridge for examination. Although no indecent images were located on those machines it was clear they had been used to access internet websites which allowed access to such images. Smith had run a “data destruction” programme on his computer 15 times and on his wife’s computer 25 times. Mr Jones said the programme had caused some files to be overwritten with the continuous repetition of the letter ‘z’ The judge, Mr Recorder Jonathan Furness, said he would place Smith on a three year community order, rather then send him to prison for a shorter period, to allow him to undertake a sex offenders’ programme. Smith must also register with the police as a sex offender for the next five years.