Man convicted of turtle sex video

A man caught with extreme animal pornography, including videos showing sexual acts with a turtle and a horse, has been given a six-month suspended prison sentence.

James Owen, 30, of Llanfechell, near Amlwch, Anglesey, had also pleaded guilty to making an indecent image of a young girl in the most serious category of child sexual abuse.

Owen told police the extreme animal pornography had been sent to him “as a joke” and he insisted he had not viewed the child abuse image.

He was also ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work at Caernarfon Crown Court in Llandudno on Friday.

The court heard that Owen was arrested at his home in October 2022 following an investigation into a pedophile named Craig Lewis.

Richard Edwards, prosecuting, said Lewis was involved in abusing children and taking pictures of them to distribute to others.

The Metropolitan Police found evidence of online conversations between Lewis and Owen and discovered a single photo of a young girl, aged between eight and ten, who was being sexually abused.

They then uncovered the extreme pornography video images showing sexual acts with a horse, a dog and a turtle.

Mr Edwards said Owen claimed he did not know the animal images were illegal.

The court was told Owen’s internet searches also suggested a sexual interest in children.

Owen pleaded guilty to both offenses at a District Court hearing in September.

Sion ap Mihangel, defending Owen, said his client had shown genuine remorse and “felt an overwhelming sense of shame”.

The court was told alcohol played a significant role in Owen’s offending and that he had undergone rehabilitation sessions to address the problem.

Judge Timothy Petts told Owen his offenses were “clearly serious” but said there was a low risk of him re-offending.

In addition to the suspended sentence and unpaid work, Owen must complete six months of alcohol treatment and 45 days of rehabilitation work and register as a sex offender for seven years.