A MAN has been jailed for serious child pornography offences and attempting to incite a young girl into sexual activity.

Dean Harper, 61, of Sisial y Pin, Ffair Rhos, admitted downloading 317 indecent images of children in the most serious category A, 400 in category B and 500 in C.

He also admitted sending images in all three categories to a third party, all on a single day.

Harper also admitted attempting to incite the girl into sexual activity knowing that she was under 13.

Kevin Jones, prosecuting, told Swansea Crown Court that the distribution of the images alerted the police who raided Harper’s home and removed computer equipment.

An examination of his internet activity revealed he had made contact with a girl via social media and swapped messages with her.

The judge, Mr Recorder Peter Griffiths, told Harper his offending was serious and a jail sentence was inevitable despite him being in a wheelchair.

Harper was jailed for a total of two years and ordered to register with the police as a sex offender for 10 years.

He was also made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order which will restrict his contact with young people and his internet activity after his release from prison.

Officer in case PC Damon Watmough said after Harper was sentenced: “This is an excellent result, and I would like to thank the investigation team for their thorough examination of Harper’s devices.

“This is an offender who has been committing the despicable offence of making and sharing indecent images of children from their home with the belief he wouldn’t be caught. He had no previous offences, and although he admitted to viewing images of young girls online, it took a full investigation using the expertise of our DCCU to uncover the scale of his wrongdoing.”

DS Mathew Davies, of Dyfed-Powys Police’s Police Online Investigation Team, added: “This sentencing shows the impact the force can have when investigative teams work together to secure a conviction.

“By going through not only Harper’s hard drives, where images were saved, but his messenger history, we have been able to secure charges against him which have resulted in a custodial sentence.

”Viewing and sharing indecent images of children online is not a victimless offence – children somewhere have been groomed or forced into taking these images, which are then distributed online. We urge anyone with information about people involved in offences of this nature to report it immediately, ether by calling Dyfed-Powys Police on 101 or speaking anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”