Man sentenced for 100,000 child abuse images in Caerphilly

A Caerphilly man who hoarded a massive collection of child abuse images spanning more than a decade has been sentenced at Newport Crown Court.

Giovanni Cronin, 36, had accumulated the disturbing material between 2013 and 2024 before police arrived at his door in the Senghenydd area. When officers attempted to examine his mobile phone, the defendant refused to provide the PIN and password needed to access the device.

Prosecutor Ieuan Bennett told the court that when detectives eventually managed to crack the codes, they discovered horrifying content. “There were images showing young children and quite terrible things being done to them,” Mr Bennett explained. The material depicted victims being anally raped and in “extreme pain and distress”.

Cronin, formerly of Commercial Street, Senghenydd, and now living on Cross Street, Abertridwr, admitted making category A, B and C indecent images of a child. He also pleaded guilty to possession of a prohibited image of a child and failing to comply with a notice requiring him to disclose his phone’s PIN and password.

The court heard the defendant had three previous convictions, including a wounding offence from February 2017.

Defence barrister Mr Fryer told the court that Cronin’s difficult childhood had a “profound effect” on him, including “the tragic death of his sister”. The court also heard that whilst Cronin had been running a successful business, it had recently fallen on harder times. Mr Fryer stated that his client wanted to emphasise that although there were 100,000 indecent images on the phone, he hadn’t viewed them all.

Judge Matthew Porter-Bryant told Cronin: “Your offences are deeply concerning.” However, the judge said he believed the community would be better protected through the defendant’s rehabilitation rather than by imposing a short prison sentence.

Cronin was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years. He must complete a 12-day mental health treatment requirement, attend a 26-day accredited programme, and fulfil a 10-day rehabilitation activity requirement.