SIMON DOVE FROM PORT TALBOT CAUGHT ON THE COSTA DEL SOL WITH CHILD ABUSE IMAGES

In February 2022, a disturbing case involving Simon Dove, a known offender from Port Talbot, unfolded across international borders, highlighting the ongoing threat posed by convicted sex offenders. Dove, who had previously been convicted of possessing indecent images of children, fled to the Costa del Sol in Spain after being handed a court order in the UK. His attempt to evade justice was ultimately unsuccessful, as authorities tracked him down to a Spanish prison where he was detained.

Following his extradition back to Wales, Dove faced a series of serious charges. Initially, he was given a suspended sentence and was placed under a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO), which was intended to monitor and restrict his online activities. Despite these measures, within just a few weeks, Dove purchased a laptop and resumed his illicit activities. Investigations revealed that he had downloaded numerous child abuse images and had installed software designed to conceal his online behavior, including virtual private network (VPN) applications and file-wiping tools.

His actions drew the attention of the court once again, with a judge describing him as a high-risk individual capable of causing significant harm to children. The case was brought before Swansea Crown Court, where prosecutor Jim Davies recounted the history of Dove’s offenses. In September 2009, police officers visited an address in Port Talbot seeking Dove in connection with investigations into indecent images. At that time, the defendant’s daughter, who was present at the property, handed over two of his computers. Forensic analysis of these devices uncovered the presence of indecent images.

Further investigations in January 2010 led police to a London address where Dove was residing. Authorities seized multiple electronic devices, including a laptop, which contained additional indecent images. Evidence also showed that Dove had been communicating with other paedophiles via Yahoo Messenger and sharing images through peer-to-peer file-sharing software. Although he was interviewed and released on bail, Dove subsequently fled the country, disappearing from authorities’ radar. During his time on the run, he faced 34 counts of making and distributing indecent images, along with one count of possessing extreme pornography.

His criminal activities resurfaced in July 2016 when Spanish police raided a property on the Costa del Sol. They seized computer equipment containing approximately 7,000 indecent images, some of which depicted the most severe forms of child abuse, including children being sexually tortured. Evidence indicated that Dove had been sharing these images with others through peer-to-peer networks once again. The Spanish court sentenced him to five years in prison in Malaga, and in 2020, he was extradited back to the UK to face further proceedings.

In July of the previous year, Dove appeared before Swansea Crown Court, where he was initially sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for 18 months. The court also ordered him to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and attend a rehabilitation course. Additionally, he was subjected to a sexual harm prevention order, which was meant to prevent him from reoffending. However, within weeks, Dove breached this order. In December 2021, police in Swansea received information indicating that he possessed an internet-enabled device that he had not disclosed. A search of his room at a guesthouse on Oystermouth Road uncovered a mini laptop hidden beneath a duvet.

On examining the device, officers discovered multiple indecent images and a link to cloud storage containing numerous videos of child sexual abuse. The laptop also had cleaning software to erase files, a VPN app to hide his online identity, and the Kik messaging app. Further investigation revealed that Dove had linked the device to 14 different email accounts. The police found a total of 175 indecent images and videos, including some depicting children as young as four years old. Alarmingly, 68 of these images were classified as Category A, showing the most severe forms of abuse, including rape and sexual violence against children.

Dove’s criminal conduct resumed mere weeks after his earlier sentencing, with evidence indicating he had begun downloading these illicit images in September 2021. His previous guilty pleas included four counts of possessing indecent images and breaching the SHPO. His defense lawyer, Huw Davies, described Dove as “contrite” and expressed his client’s willingness to comply with court orders and cooperate with authorities to reduce the risk of re-offending.

However, Judge Catherine Richards was unequivocal in her assessment. She stated that Dove’s actions—downloading and sharing indecent images—were supporting the abuse and rape of young children, representing the worst forms of sexual violence. The judge emphasized that Dove’s behavior following his suspended sentence and SHPO was deliberate and planned, leading her to conclude that he was a dangerous offender with a high risk of causing further harm to children. As a result, she sentenced him to an extended term of four years and three months, which included two years and three months in custody, followed by a two-year extended license period. Dove was required to serve at least two-thirds of his custodial sentence before being eligible for parole, with the final decision resting with the Parole Board. He will also be registered as a sex offender for the next decade, underscoring the severity of his crimes and the ongoing threat he poses to society.