Dylan Greenhalgh

Dylan Greenhalgh, a 23-year-old man from Aberbargoed in Caerphilly, was sentenced at Newport Crown Court for persistently breaching a sexual harm prevention order imposed following prior convictions for child sex offences.

Greenhalgh had previously received a suspended prison sentence for sexual activity with a 14-year-old girl when he was younger. He also pleaded guilty to making an indecent image of a child, possession of a prohibited image of a child, and possession of extreme pornography involving bestiality. These offences resulted in the sexual harm prevention order, which strictly limited his internet use to prevent further harm.

Between 1 April and 4 September, Blackwood police, part of Gwent Police, monitored Greenhalgh and discovered multiple breaches of the order. These included using five aliases on Snapchat, possessing three unregistered devices, and installing a VPN on his phone to circumvent restrictions. Upon arrest, when questioned by an officer about his actions, Greenhalgh defiantly replied, 'I just don’t care.' He subsequently provided a no-comment interview to detectives at the police station.

Prosecutor Cat Jones outlined the breaches to the court, emphasising the repeated nature of Greenhalgh's non-compliance despite the support provided. His barrister, Richard Ace, described Greenhalgh as a young man with immaturity, noting his isolated existence as a gamer but highlighting positive socialisation during remand in custody following his September arrest. Ace stated that Greenhalgh 'appears to understand his offending.'

Judge Catherine Richards condemned the persistent breaches, aggravated by Greenhalgh's previous convictions and the fact that he was under a suspended sentence at the time. She remarked, 'Despite the support you were given, you continued to reoffend.' As a result, Greenhalgh was jailed for two years, required to serve half in prison before release on licence, and ordered to pay a victim surcharge.