Priest spared jail over indecent images of children
BBCA former school chaplain and rector found with extreme pornography and indecent images of children on his phone has been spared jail.
Samuel Erlandson, 36, from Ruabon, Wrexham, admitted two charges of making an indecent image of a child and one count of extreme pornography featuring abuse of a boxer dog.
Llandudno Magistrates' Court was told he had "extremely disturbing" images of young children.
He was dismissed as chaplain of St David’s College - a boarding school in Llandudno, Conwy county.
Prosecutor Alys Haf told the court Erlandson was "a trusted man in society", officiating at weddings.
Two indecent images of children and extreme pornography of the dog and a woman were found on his mobile phone at the time of his arrest in November.
She said it was "extremely disturbing, from ages of three to eight years old".
David Jones, defending, admitted a breach of a trust by his client.
"He clearly has let down a lot of people, his employers, children and his family.
"He's been dealing with an addiction for many years.
"Unfortunately he got involved with [a chat app] which seems to be a very unpleasant messaging site with various groups on it," he added.
"He's found himself getting deeper and darker into this chat. He's received these images.
"He will never work for the church again or in education."
Real children depicted
District judge Gwyn Jones imposed a 32-week jail term, suspended for 18 months.
He was also ordered to carry out 160 hours unpaid work, pay £272 in costs and register as a sex offender for ten years.
A sexual harm prevention order was also made.
"Offences of this nature are very, very serious in there are real children depicted in these images," Judge Jones remarked
"The matter is made worse by virtue of your position within the community.
"You were trusted within the community not only because of you being ordained but also with regard to your position within the school in question.
"No doubt those who have connections with both organisations will need to consider whether appropriate steps were taken by them to ensure everybody was safeguarded."
Erlandson was also rector of St Hilary’s Church in Llanrhos and St Paul’s in Llandudno.
St. David’s College previously said said it was "deeply shocked and distressed by the news".
The Church in Wales previously said it was "appalled and saddened that one of its clerics has committed such serious offences".
The church said its safeguarding team worked with the police following Erlandson's arrest and would consider further action once the criminal case was finished.
"There is no place for any form of abuse in the Church in Wales.
"We give the highest priority to the care and protection of children and vulnerable people in our communities.
"To this end we regularly review our safeguarding procedures and provide extensive training to staff and volunteers."