Cardiff Crown Court (Image: Wales Updates)
Last Updated: 3 minutes ago
A 22-year-old mechanic has been spared jail after more than 100 indecent images of children – including babies as young as one – were discovered hidden in a locked folder on his mobile phone.
Jack Purnell, of Alexandra Place, Newbridge, Caerphilly, was handed a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, at Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday after admitting three counts of making indecent images of children.
The search
The court heard that officers carried out a search warrant at Purnell’s address on April 17, 2025, acting on intelligence from a separate investigation. Several devices were seized during the search and indecent images of children were subsequently found on a mobile phone belonging to the defendant.
Purnell was arrested and gave a no comment interview.
What was found
Prosecutor Alex Granville told the court that forensic analysis of Purnell’s devices revealed more than 100 images across all three categories of severity. The images had been stored inside a secure folder within the phone’s gallery app, which Purnell had titled “young”.
Mr Granville said this demonstrated the defendant was fully aware of the nature of the material he possessed.
Among the most serious material – category A – were 21 still images and 26 moving images. Mr Granville told the court the graphic content depicted girls aged between three and 13 being sexually abused by adult males. Other images showed children performing sex acts on each other.
The category B material comprised 13 still and five moving images showing girls aged between six and 13 “partially clothed and kissing”, alongside further images depicting abuse of children.
A further 15 still and four moving category C images were recovered, some of which showed babies as young as one naked or in a state of undress.
The offending took place over a period of approximately 18 months.
Mitigation
Gareth Williams, representing Purnell, told the court his client was “remorseful and ashamed of what he has done”. He described Purnell as a very young man who continues to live at home with his mother.
Mr Williams said Purnell had attended university and understood the impact his offending would have on his future prospects. He is currently employed as a mechanic.
The court was told “there is no way” Purnell would return to an entrenched pattern of offending. He has no previous convictions.
Sentence
Recorder Christian Jowett sentenced Purnell to 12 months’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months. He was also made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order lasting 10 years.
Purnell was additionally ordered to complete 225 hours of unpaid work and a five-day rehabilitation activity requirement.
