Crime

Paedophile caught with 1000 indecent images branded ‘sad man with sad fantasies’

Published

2 years ago

August 15, 2024

A HAVERFORDWEST man has been condemned as “a sad man with sad fantasies” after authorities uncovered nearly 1,000 indecent videos and images of children, including newborn babies, in his possession.

Matthew Wood, 30, was found guilty of possessing a vast trove of child sexual abuse material after police seized multiple electronic devices from his home on Coronation Avenue on 28 September 2022. Prosecutor Caitlin Brazel revealed that the items confiscated included phones, laptops, computer towers, and an iPad.

Wood admitted to having indecent images of children and cooperated with police by providing access to his devices. During an interview, he further directed officers to two additional computer towers that had not been found during the initial search.

Wood claimed that the images were sent to him through a group chat on the Kik messaging platform, stating that he was “merely curious about what could be found online” and had not viewed the material “for a number of years.”

In total, police discovered 102 images and 321 videos of Category A, 248 images and 62 videos of Category B, and 212 images and eight videos of Category C, along with five prohibited videos of children and 20 extreme pornographic videos depicting bestiality. Additionally, it was revealed that Wood had distributed a Category A video on 1 February 2022, showing a baby, aged between 12 and 18 months, being sexually abused by a man.

Ms Brazel described Wood as an “active participant” in the group chats, where he sent disturbing messages expressing his intent to “rape all the subjects” of the images and videos, and voiced a desire to meet the person who sent him the videos so they could “tag team” a child.

Wood pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including distributing an indecent image of a child, three offences of making indecent images of children, possessing a prohibited image of a child, and possessing extreme pornography. These offences spanned from August 2018 to September 2022.

In mitigation, defence counsel Ian Ibrahim highlighted that Wood had no previous convictions and acknowledged that his client’s “good character is now, of course, lost forever.” Mr Ibrahim also noted that Wood had been ostracised by his family, with his mother telling him not to return home, and that he had been attending sex therapy sessions voluntarily. Wood no longer claimed to have obtained the images “out of curiosity.”

Presiding over the case, Judge Paul Thomas KC expressed his deep concern over the material found on Wood’s devices. “The material that you had over a prolonged period of time on your various devices was utterly appalling,” he stated, adding that Wood’s participation in the chats was “extremely worrying.”

“You are a sad man with sad fantasies,” Judge Thomas continued. “If you have become a social pariah, you can hardly blame people for acting in disgust at the sort of images you were viewing.”

Wood was sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for two years. He was also ordered to complete the Maps For Change programme and undertake 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

Additionally, Wood must register as a sex offender.

Crime

Family’s anguish as politicians raise fears over killer driver’s possible early release

Published

12 hours ago

July 2, 2026

Tom Sinclair

THE WIDOW of a Carmarthenshire father killed by a dangerous driver has been left facing months of uncertainty after being told the man jailed over her husband’s death may fall under new sentencing rules.

Aaron Jones, 38, from Llanpumsaint, died while walking his dog on December 23, 2024. His death devastated his family and shocked the close-knit village community.

Daniel Douglas Wyke, from Carmarthen, later admitted causing death by dangerous driving. He was jailed at Swansea Crown Court for four-and-a-half years and banned from driving for eight years and two months.

Now Aaron’s widow, Lisa Jones, has received correspondence indicating that Wyke may be affected by provisions introduced under the Sentencing Act 2026.

The family has been told it may not know until the end of August whether the changes will affect the time he spends in custody.

Ann Davies MP for Caerfyrddin and Nerys Evans MS for Sir Gaerfyrddin have now written to the Ministry of Justice seeking assurances that Aaron’s family will be heard during any review process.

They said the uncertainty had added further pain for a family already living with unimaginable loss.

“Our thoughts remain firmly with Lisa Jones, her family and the community of Llanpumsaint, who continue to endure unimaginable grief following the tragic loss of Aaron,” they said.

“To now face uncertainty over the sentence of the man responsible for his death adds further distress at an already devastating time.

“It is vital that the Ministry of Justice listens to victims and their families. Any move to shorten sentences in cases of this seriousness must be approached with the utmost caution and sensitivity.”

Nerys Evans MS said victims and their families must remain at the centre of the justice system.

She added: “We have written to the Ministry of Justice to seek assurance that the voice and view of Aaron’s family are able to be heard as part of any process to review the sentence.”

Ann Davies also raised the case in Westminster on Thursday, July 2.

Speaking in the House of Commons, she said her constituent Aaron Jones had been killed in a hit-and-run while walking his dog, and that his widow had since received a letter from the Ministry of Justice about sentence changes under the Sentencing Act 2026.

She asked whether ministers accepted that waiting until the end of August to learn whether Wyke could be released earlier than expected was causing further distress to victims’ families.

Sir Alan Campbell, Leader of the House of Commons, said he understood the sensitivity of the case and the distress caused to Aaron’s family.

He said: “These are difficult decisions, but I understand the point about assurances as far as they can be given to families.”

He added that he hoped the Ministry of Justice had heard the concerns and said he would raise the matter directly.

The Sentencing Act 2026 received Royal Assent in January. The Government says the reforms are intended to tackle prison overcrowding, increase the use of tougher community restrictions and make greater use of supervision and tagging after release.

However, the case has highlighted the anxiety caused to victims’ families when changes to release arrangements are communicated before the full impact on individual cases is known.

For Lisa Jones and her children, the question now is not only what decision will be made, but why they must wait weeks to find out.

Crime

Llandeilo man accused of rape sent to Crown Court

Published

15 hours ago

July 2, 2026

Court Reporter

Ben Barrett remanded in custody ahead of Swansea hearing

A LLANDEILO man accused of rape has been sent to Swansea Crown Court.

Ben Barrett, 37, of Maes y Farchnad, Llandeilo, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Jul 2).

He is charged with rape, contrary to section 1 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

The alleged offence is said to have taken place in Llandeilo between March 21 and March 31, 2025.

No plea was entered during the magistrates’ court hearing.

The case was sent to Swansea Crown Court under section 51 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.

Barrett was remanded in custody and is due to appear at Swansea Crown Court on August 3 for a plea and trial preparation hearing.

Crime

Cilgerran man accused of intentional strangulation in Haverfordwest

Published

15 hours ago

July 2, 2026

Court Reporter

Carl Rago remains in custody after separate guilty plea to damaging police property

A CILGERRAN man accused of intentionally strangling a woman in Haverfordwest has been remanded in custody.

Carl Rago, 29, of Penffynnon, Cilgerran, Cardigan, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Jul 2) for a mention hearing.

The court register states that Rago is charged with intentional strangulation, contrary to section 75A of the Serious Crime Act 2015.

The alleged offence is said to have taken place in Haverfordwest on May 25.

No plea is recorded on the court register for that charge.

Rago has also indicated a guilty plea to a separate charge of criminal damage.

That offence relates to damage caused in Haverfordwest on June 7 to the inside of a police vehicle, described as a C30 Vauxhall van, and a Samsung mobile phone belonging to Dyfed-Powys Police.

The damage was valued at under £5,000.

Magistrates remanded Rago in custody after the hearing. The court register records the remand basis as including a likelihood of further offending, breach of bail, previous record and character, and the nature and seriousness of the offences.

The case was adjourned for a further mention hearing at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on July 23.