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A POLICE inspector was part of a South Wales paedophile ring which regularly met online to discuss how they could abuse children under 13, a court has heard.

In the first case of its kind in South Wales, Geraint Lloyd Evans, 47, of Purdey Close, Barry, who was formerly stationed at Bridgend Police Station, admitted conspiring to incite engagement in unlawful sexual activity with a child under 13.

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And at Swansea Crown Court, Evans, now no longer with South Wales Police, also admitted possessing more than 170 extreme pornography images, including bestiality.

Police raided married Evans’ home last year and found computer equipment containing the indecent images and logs of child sex chat room discussions he had with other men.

The 47-year-old former officer, bailed to an address in Manor Drive, Coychurch, Bridgend, will be sentenced later this year along with three others.

Evans worked for many years in the force's central division - which included Barry and Bridgend - and had his bail conditions altered so he could report once a week rather than twice to Bridgend Police Station as it was “distressing” for him to report to his former police station.

Evans entered his guilty pleas on Tuesday before the brief trial of chartered surveyor Keith Bold, 47, of Skewen, Neath, who was today found guilty of encouraging Evans to sexually assault a child under 13.

John Hipkin, prosecuting, said it was not necessary for the crown to prove a child had actually been abused. He said the case was about encouragement to do so.

Bold, who denied the offence, was already serving a 28-month sentence for possessing and distributing child sex images.

Police found 6,788 static images at his home, including 272 images intended for sharing with other internet users via a website.

Amongst the images intended for sharing were 60 images at level five and 69 at level four.

On a scale of one to five, five is the most serious.

During Bold’s three day trial, the jury heard a transcript of chilling chat room discussions Evans, then a serving police inspector, had with Bold.

One went:

Evans: “Are you interested in meeting at my friend’s house in Caerphilly?”

Bold: “Yes, I think it could be cool.”

Evans: “I think we could have a great time.”

Bold: “I wish we could have some young to play with.”

Evans: “That could be an option.”

Bold: “How?”

Evans: “My mate has some pervy mates who could oblige but only once they know you’re genuine.”

Mr Hipkin told the jury there was no doubt from the crown’s point of view that “young” referred to children under 13.

He added that Evans did have a friend who lived near Caerphilly.

Patrick Griffiths, for Bold, said his client’s defence was that his online discussions with the police inspector were pure fantasy.

But the jury’s unanimous verdict meant they felt Bold intended Evans to carry out child abuse.

As well as the possession of extreme pornography, Evans admitted encouraging Bold to commit sex abuse on a child and conspiring with Leslie Ronald Asser, 54, of Wilton Post Office, Ross-on-Wye, to encourage another man to commit sex abuse on a child.

Asser has admitted the conspiracy charge with Evans plus a second charge of encouraging a man to commit child sex abuse.

A fourth defendant, Wayne Barnes, 50, of Old Road, Neath, has admitted encouraging a man to commit child sex abuse.

Judge Paul Thomas said today the four would all be sentenced together later this year after background reports were drawn up.