A POWYS man has been jailed for three years following a string of sexual offences against five victims – four of them children.

Jeff Robert Prosser’s offending was described as “depraved” by Judge Rhys Rowlands at Mold Crown Court today (March 15).

Prosser, 55, admitted a total of 10 charges at an earlier hearing, which related to offending between July 17, 2020, and January 7, 2021. These included three counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, two counts of causing a child to look at an image of sexual activity and three counts of inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity.

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Additionally, there was one charge of voyeurism – which saw Prosser set up a spy camera in a private bathroom – and one of possessing indecent images of children.

He was arrested following a call to North Wales Police in January 2021 from the mother of a vulnerable 17-year-old girl, who told police Prosser had indecent images of her daughter on his phone. Police arrested Prosser at his home, at School House, Leighton Road, Buttington, near Welshpool, on January 8, 2021.

Prosecutor Sarah Badrawy said Prosser pleaded guilty to 10 charges on January 14, with one other charge, which he denied, to lie on file.

“Police received a report from the mother of a 17-year-old girl, who is subject to a full care order and suffers with mental health difficulties,” said Ms Badrawy.

“The defendant had indecent images on his phone and on January 8 police arrested him, seizing his mobile phone. He admitted being in possession of indecent images of her; there were 49 indecent images and videos of the victim.”

Ms Badrawy said the charges relating to the online sexual offences against children related to the defendant engaging in conversations with three females under 16 on a chat site.

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“Within a chat with one victim, he said he knew she was 15 and he asked about her genitals,” said Ms Badrawy.

“Another victim, aged 15, was from Austria. He told her he was 31. He said she was a little young, but ‘not that it matters’ and ‘I like younger girls’.

“Another victim said she was 14 and he said that was okay with him."

James Coutts, representing the defendant, said Prosser had never offended prior to this and described it as a “desperately sad situation”.

“I recognise from the outset that this is desperately serious,” said Mr Coutts.

“It crosses the custodial threshold and in almost all cases of this nature the court would be imposing an immediate custodial sentence. But there is exceptional mitigation in this case, in relation to his wife, that could justify an unusually lenient and merciful sentence.”

Mr Coutts said that Prosser’s wife is has physical difficulties and relies heavily on him, while the house has been modified because of her disability.

“He has a physically demanding job, which he has juggled for some time with a very difficult home life,” added Mr Coutts.

“The internet offending marked the culmination of a downward spiral in his life. Unfortunately for him, what he did was turn to a release from the stress of everyday life that was highly inappropriate. He’s known his punishment was coming since he was arrested in January 2021.

“His remorse is genuine and the impact on others is exceptional in this case. He has no family in the area, his house is entirely dependent on his job, which he’ll lose if he is sent to custody.

“There is nobody to blame but the defendant but his wife stands to lose the most and she’s done nothing wrong.

“The offending was over a relatively short period of time, combined with stress which led to him acting out of character."

Judge Rowlands told Prosser: “You were a married man, a hard worker, outwardly respectable and well thought of, but that didn’t stop you from acting in a wholly inappropriate and pretty depraved way.

“I notice you’re disgusted and shamed by your behaviour, there is a degree of mental ill health and an immediate custodial sentence will cause real difficulties for your wife. This is a truly exceptional case.

“I bear in mind what the hardship of going to prison would cause your wife, but I’m simply unable to accept that an immediate prison term would be disproportionate in your case.

“It involved repeat offending and targeting young girls. I am firmly of the view that this is far too serious for anything other than a sentence of immediate imprisonment.”

Prosser was given 18 and 12-month consecutive sentences in relation to two of the online victims, with a further 12-month concurrent sentence handed down in relation to the third online victim. He will also serve two sets of three months consecutively for voyeurism and for possessing indecent images of the 17-year-old victim – making his total jail term three years.

A sexual harm prevention order was also made, while Prosser must register as a sex offender. Both orders will last 10 years.