Gower pensioner dies before sentencing for child abuse images

A Gower pensioner who admitted serious child sexual abuse image offences has died before he could be sentenced, a court has been told.

Ian Hagain, 76, of Pennard Drive, Southgate, pleaded guilty to possessing more than 1,000 indecent images of children when he appeared before Swansea Magistrates Court on November 19 last year. The defendant also admitted distributing a small number of the images and possessing extreme pornography.

Due to the severity of the offences, magistrates committed the case to Swansea Crown Court for sentencing. However, the court heard that Hagain died at Morriston Hospital on December 13 – less than a month after entering his guilty pleas.

Prosecutor Ryan Bowen told the crown court that a death certificate for Hagain had been provided to the court.

Judge Catherine Richards confirmed she had been provided with the death certificate and ordered that the indictment against the defendant be marked as having no legal effect, formally closing the criminal proceedings.