STEPHEN EVANS FROM HAVERFORDWEST GETS SENTENCE REDUCTION IN CHILD SEXUAL TEXT CASE

In a notable decision by the Court of Appeal, Stephen David Evans, a 57-year-old resident of Haverfordwest, has had his prison sentence significantly reduced following a conviction related to inappropriate communications with a minor. Evans, a former Pembrokeshire councillor, was initially sentenced to 16 months in prison at Swansea Crown Court in August after admitting to two counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

According to court proceedings, Evans was in a highly troubled mental state at the time he sent a series of explicit and disturbing anonymous messages to a 15-year-old girl. The messages, described as “disgusting and obscene” by Lady Justice Sharp, included a blunt statement where Evans explicitly expressed his desire to engage in sexual activity with the girl, saying, “I want to s**g you.”

Further messages revealed Evans’ disturbing fantasies, including a desire for a “threesome” involving the girl, despite her being underage at the time. The court heard that these messages had a profound impact on the victim, whose GCSE grades reportedly suffered as a result of the distress caused by Evans’ actions.

Despite the severity of the messages, the court acknowledged Evans’ previous good character and his personal circumstances. Lady Justice Sharp highlighted his “exemplary devotion” to his wife, who suffers from Multiple Sclerosis, and noted that Evans had taken on the “enormous burden” of caring for her before his incarceration. The court also considered Evans’ genuine remorse, sense of shame, and regret, emphasizing that he had not attempted to groom or physically contact his victim.

In her judgment, Lady Justice Sharp recognized the reasons for mercy given the circumstances, stating, “There were reasons to be merciful in view of the difficulties in this case.” As a result, the court decided to cut Evans’ sentence from 16 months to just 20 weeks, which would allow for his immediate release from custody. The decision underscores the court’s consideration of both the gravity of the offense and the personal hardships faced by Evans, ultimately leading to a more lenient outcome.