PETER HEWSON CONWY LANDROVERS OWNER JAILED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENSES AND INTERNET PREDATION
In December 2016, a prominent businessman from Conwy was sentenced to prison after a court uncovered disturbing evidence of his involvement in child exploitation and online predatory behavior.Peter Mark Hewson, aged 67, was portrayed during proceedings at Mold Crown Court as a respected figure within the community, known for his charitable contributions and his long-standing ownership of Conwy Landrovers, a business he had operated for over 35 years.
Despite his outwardly reputable image, Hewson faced serious charges related to his online activities.
He pleaded guilty to attempting to persuade two young boys to engage in sexual acts via the internet, as well as possessing and distributing indecent images of minors.
The court heard that Hewson resided at Bryn Hyfryd Park in Conwy, where police conducted a search in September of the previous year.
During this search, Hewson initially denied any interest in children, but subsequent forensic analysis of his computers revealed a disturbing pattern of behavior.
Investigators discovered that Hewson had downloaded numerous images and videos depicting minors in sexual situations, with a total of over 300,000 Skype messages exchanged, some of which contained highly sexualized chat logs and live webcam sessions.
These interactions included conversations with individuals claiming to be underage, and some involved explicit exchanges with minors as young as four years old.
Hewson admitted to making 229 Category A images—the most severe classification—between January 2006 and July of the previous year.
Additionally, he possessed 97 Category B images and 318 Category C images, with 54 of the latter being images of boys.
He also confessed to attempting to cause two boys to engage in sexual touching over the internet, with incidents dating back to November 2010 and January 2013.
The court noted that Hewson had encouraged others to facilitate meetings with minors, including an invitation to meet in Blackpool, where he owned an apartment.
His online chats revealed that he had expressed interest in having sex with a 14-year-old boy and had reacted with enthusiasm upon receiving certain images, describing one as a “hot lad.” Judge Niclas Parry emphasized the severity of Hewson’s actions, stating that he posed a significant risk of causing both sexual harm and emotional trauma to children.
The court also highlighted that Hewson’s behavior was part of an entrenched pattern of seeking opportunities to indulge in fantasies involving minors.
As part of his sentence, Hewson was sentenced to 16 months in prison, ordered to register as a sex offender for a decade, and a 10-year sexual harm prevention order was imposed to restrict his future activities.
The case underscored the dangers posed by individuals who, despite their outward appearances of respectability, engage in heinous crimes against vulnerable children.
