A MAN from Cardigan appeared at Swansea Crown Court yesterday (Thursday) charged with thirteen counts of making indecent images of a child, and two counts of showing a 7 year old child hard-core pornographic images.
The prosecution allege that Andrew Francis Forster, aged 27, who recently moved to Fleming Crescent in Haverfordwest, created images which included the most serious level of indecency, Category A – creating images involving penetrative sexual activity with a child.
The incidents are alleged to have taken place in Haverfordwest between April 6 and April 8.
Forster appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court on Thursday last week (April 10) to confirm his name and address, and was remanded into custody to await trial by jury.
He did not enter pleas at the hearing, and not guilty pleas were formally entered by the Court to the fifteen offences.
The Herald understands that Forster is fascinated with Japanese ‘manga’ cartoons. On social media he has posted pictures of his partner and himself dressed as anime characters. On Facebook, Forster talked of his love for 1998 Japanese romantic comic book ‘Love Hina’ which contains cartoon images of young girls in swim suits.
There is no suggestion that his partner, who is many years younger than him, has anything to do with the offences.
The sentencing guidelines, which sentencing judges must follow, were updated at the beginning of this month. The two offences with which Forster is charged under Section 12 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (e.g. causing a child to watch a pornographic film) attract a sentencing starting point of 1 year’s imprisonment with a maximum sentence of 6 years’ imprisonment, dependent on the existence of additional aggravating factors. The remaining allegations, made under Section 1 of the 1978 Protection of Children Act (relating to the possession or production of indecent photographs), carry a maximum sentence of 9 years’ custody, again depending on specific aggravating circumstances identified in the sentencing criteria.
The Pembrokeshire Herald contacted a member of Forster’s family who said they did not wish to comment.
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