A couple of paedophiles from Wales, Jonathan Leonard and Ann Bray Wales, has been sentenced to 23 years each after video evidence of their sexual abuse of a child was disseminated online.
Jonathan Leonard, 58, of Caldicot, Monmouthshire, and Ann Bray, 62, of Newport, were apprehended by National Crime Agency officers in September 2024 on intelligence provided by the FBI.
Upon arrest, both Jonathan Leonard and Ann Bray Wales’s gadgets were confiscated, with Ann Bray’s device including films and photographs of the duo perpetrating child abuse from 2021 to 2024.
NCA investigators found that Ann Bray had been conditioning the child to engage in sexual activities with the couple.
Ann Bray recorded videos and photographs of the abuse and disseminated them to Jonathan Leonard. Officers discovered chat messages in which they discussed the abuse, their desires, and strategised to perpetrate the acts. Jonathan Leonard subsequently disseminated several of these photographs online.
Jonathan Leonard and Ann Bray Wales were discovered to possess several additional indecent photographs of children and extreme pornography.
Jonathan Leonard and Ann Bray were interrogated by NCA officers but declined to respond to any enquiries on their participation.
They faced many child abuse charges and entered a guilty plea at Cardiff Crown Court on 24 January.
Jonathan Leonard and Ann Bray Wales received sentences of 23 years’ imprisonment, with eight years to be served on parole, today (19 May).
Daniel Waywell, Senior Investigating Officer at the NCA, said: “Jonathan Leonard and Ann Bray Wales worked together to support one another’s sexual interest in children, subjecting a child to years of horrific abuse, which they filmed and shared online with other paedophiles.
“This child, and every one of the victims of abuse in the indecent images and videos found on their devices, are re-victimised each time this material is viewed and shared online.
“The NCA is committed to safeguarding children from sexual abuse and we will continue to work tirelessly, alongside international partners, to remove children from harm and bring offenders like Jonathan Leonard and Ann Bray Wales to justice.”
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