PHILIP REES SENTENCED TO LIFE IN SWINDON FOR CHILD SEX OFFENSES AND CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

In a harrowing case that has shocked the community of Swindon, Philip Rees has been handed a life sentence after being convicted of heinous crimes involving the sexual abuse of a young girl and the possession of numerous indecent images of children. The incident, which came to light in September 2009, revealed Rees’s disturbing actions captured on his mobile phone, where he recorded and photographed himself abusing a girl under the age of 10.

Rees, aged 43 and residing on Graham Street in Swindon, was brought before Swindon Crown Court to face justice for his crimes. The court heard that he had taken photographs and recorded videos during the assault, which was committed when the girl was still a child. The severity of his offenses was compounded by the fact that he had a prior conviction for indecently assaulting a young girl, and investigators uncovered a vast collection of child abuse images stored across his devices.

During the sentencing hearing, prosecutor Stacey Turner detailed the extent of Rees’s criminal activities. The victim, whose identity remains protected, disclosed that Rees had taken photographs of her, although she was vague about the specifics of what had transpired. When authorities examined Rees’s mobile phone, they discovered a series of indecent images of children, including one photograph and two videos featuring the young girl he had assaulted. In addition, there were 23 other indecent images of different children stored on his phone.

Further investigations revealed an alarming cache of material stored on Rees’s computer and other electronic devices—an astonishing total of 8,261 indecent images of children. Some of these images were found in a locked sports bag, indicating an attempt to conceal or protect this illicit collection. The court also learned that Rees had a criminal history dating back to 1990, when he was convicted of indecently assaulting a girl under 14 in the North East of England. At that time, he was sentenced to a probation order, but because this was before the implementation of the sex offender register, he was never formally registered as a sex offender.

Rees pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including three counts of sexual assault and three counts of making indecent images of children. He also admitted to 13 counts of creating such images and possession of indecent material both before and after March 15, with additional possession occurring on March 31. His defense, led by Sue Evans, acknowledged that Rees was aware of the lengthy prison sentence he faced but emphasized that his guilty plea spared the victim from having to testify in court.

Judge Douglas Field, presiding over the case, referenced a pre-sentence report that described Rees’s longstanding sexual interest in pre-pubertal females, which had culminated in the recent abuse of two young children. The report concluded that Rees posed an ongoing threat to children, a risk that is unlikely to diminish over time. The judge remarked on the disturbing nature of Rees’s actions, noting that the photographs and videos taken by him likely provided him with sexual gratification. He emphasized the lasting impact on the young girl and her family, stating that the trauma inflicted would have enduring effects.

In addition to the life imprisonment, Judge Field disqualified Rees from ever working with children and ordered that he be registered as a sex offender for life. The case has sent a stark warning about the dangers posed by individuals with a history of sexual offenses, especially those who continue to pose a threat despite previous convictions. The community of Swindon is left to grapple with the gravity of these crimes and the ongoing need for vigilance against such offenders.