A retired Church of England vicar has been sentenced to prison after police discovered prohibited images of children on his laptop during an unannounced home visit. Andrew Robinson, 77, of Talybont-on-Usk, Brecon, told officers that he “didn’t think they were illegal” when confronted with the material.
Previous Conviction and Suspended Sentence
Robinson had previously appeared in court in April 2025, where he admitted possessing indecent images of children. He received a suspended sentence and was placed on the sex offenders’ register. Additionally, a sexual harm prevention order was imposed on him.
As a registered offender, Robinson was routinely monitored by Dyfed-Powys Police’s offender management unit. This unit conducts unannounced checks on individuals considered to pose an ongoing risk to the public.
Discovery During Spot-Check
On June 9, officers arrived at the retired vicar’s home to perform a spot-check of his digital devices. Upon entering, they found an open laptop displaying animated graphic images of children engaging in sexual activity with adults.
When questioned, Robinson stated, “I didn’t think these were illegal.” After his arrest, he reportedly said, “I have nothing else to do.”
Court Appearance and Sentencing
The following day, June 10, Robinson appeared before Merthyr Magistrates’ Court, charged with possession of a prohibited image of a child. He pleaded guilty to the child sex offence and admitted breaching his sexual harm prevention order.
The court activated his suspended sentence, resulting in a total jail term of 12 months and 12 weeks. He was also ordered to pay a fine of £187.
Police Response
Detective Sergeant Paula Rutherford of Dyfed-Powys Police commented on the case: “Robinson claimed not to know that possessing animated images of children engaging in sexual activity was illegal. The law is clear, and Robinson’s behaviour was not just illegal, but wholly immoral and frankly disturbing.”
She added: “People may think that there are no ‘real’ victims in these types of offences, but the very act of viewing such images online feeds the demand to produce more harmful images. Viewing indecent images can often be the first step towards committing serious sexual offences against children, and we have a duty to protect children from harm.”
Rutherford concluded: “The sentencing of Robinson is an excellent result by a tenacious and dedicated team who target and monitor registered sex offenders in the community. The safeguarding and protection of the public online, and in the community, is the focus of our work and this custodial sentence reflects that commitment.”
