A man in Swansea has been sentenced after police found over 300 of the worst kind of sexual images of children at his property in Ravenhill. Matthew Cossins, 34, was visited by police last year following intelligence that illegal images had been viewed at his house. The police seized several devices, including a laptop, desktop, and phone. Cossins revealed that he had been speaking to women online after his relationship ended, leading to the exchange of illegal images.
Prosecution barrister Harry Dickens disclosed that despite Cossins claiming he did not want the illegal images, authorities discovered 319 category A images, 355 category B images, and 135 category C images on his devices. The images depicted children as young as three to five years old engaged in explicit acts under the influence of substances. Some images showed children in distress, prompting a serious response from the court.
During sentencing at Swansea Crown Court, Judge Geraint Walters expressed dismay at the nature of the offences, highlighting the gravity of the situation. Cossins was sentenced to a total of 12 months in prison for possessing the illegal images, with additional requirements including attending specified programs and registering as a sex offender for a decade.
The judge condemned Cossins for his actions, emphasising the real victims behind the images were children being exploited and abused. Despite the suspension of his sentence, Cossins was warned of the severe repercussions of his crimes. The case serves as a stark reminder of the authorities vigilance in detecting such offences, with Judge Walters noting the prevalence of such crimes within society.