Woman posed as child while sharing indecent images online

A Cardiff woman who pretended to be a 13-year-old girl online while sharing indecent images of children as young as two has been handed a suspended prison sentence.

Joanne McGreggor, 46, was visited by police at her home in Verallo Drive, Canton, on 12 December. Officers seized and examined her devices, discovering 31 category A images, 38 category B images, 73 category C images, and 171 extreme images depicting bestiality.

Newport Crown Court heard the indecent images showed children aged between two and 16 being sexually abused. The material had been downloaded between March 2022 and September 2024.

During police interview, McGreggor claimed she accessed the images out of “boredom and curiosity” but insisted she was not sexually attracted to children. She admitted she enjoyed “role playing” as a 13-year-old girl and sent indecent images to others while pretending to be a child.

Police also found browsing history and chat logs referring to child abuse, incest, and bestiality on her devices.

McGreggor pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images and possession of extreme images. The court heard she has no previous convictions.

Her barrister, Owen Williams, said his client had experienced “childhood trauma” and needs help “for whatever has led to her behaving in this way”. He noted she holds down a full-time job and is able to carry out unpaid work.

Sentencing, Judge Daniel Williams said: “You visited dating sites to engage in sexual communications with the intention of finding like-minded individuals. Behind each of these images is a real child and real sexual abuse, whose agony would be greater if they knew the abuse was published for the benefit of the sexual gratification of others.”

McGreggor was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months. She must complete 200 hours of unpaid work and a 15-day rehabilitation activity requirement. She was also made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and sex offender notification requirements for 10 years.