A POWYS man will be sentenced in the crown court after admitting multiple charges relating to possessing and distributing indecent images of children.
Andrew Phillip Higgins, from Llansantffraid, appeared at Welshpool Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, June 13, where he entered guilty pleas to a total of four charges against him.
The 53-year-old admitted three charges of making indecent images of children and a fourth charge of distributing an indecent image of a child.
Charge 1 involves Higgins, of Riverbank Cottage, Llansantffraid, making 40 Category A images of a child – the most serious category. Charge 2 states he made 27 Category B images and charge 3 states he made 23 Category C images.
All of these offences took place on January 1, 2020. The distribution charge relates to one solitary image and dates back to January 15, 2022.
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Prosecutor Helen Tench said: “A search warrant was executed at the home of the defendant following information that someone had used the internet to access indecent images.
“Two mobile devices were seized, a Motorola and a Samsung device, belonging to the defendant, which were sent off for analysis.
“Images were confirmed to have been found on them, there were images and videos found. The defendant was arrested and he admitted fully making images on the devices and distributing them.”
Mrs Tench said that the magistrates had the power to impose a custodial sentence of up to 12 months, but she added: “Despite there being early guilty pleas I submit that this case should be sent to crown court for sentence.”
She also said she would be asking for a sexual harm prevention order and she requested the forfeiture and destruction of Higgins’ mobile devices.
Stephen Pembroke, chair of the bench, told Higgins: “We are committing this case to the crown court for sentence as we fear it is out of our jurisdiction and due to the seriousness of the offences.”
Higgins is due to appear at Mold Crown Court on July 6, with magistrates ordering a pre-sentence report. In the meantime, he must visit Newtown Police Station within three days and sign the sex offender’s register.
Higgins was granted conditional bail.
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