Daran Hill: Ex-lobbyist jailed over indecent images of children

A Welsh former lobbyist has been jailed for three years and four months after pleading guilty to making and distributing indecent images of children.

Daran Hill, 52 of Llangyfelach, Swansea, was charged with five counts including two of distributing indecent images of children and three counts of making them.

Videos found on his phone showed children as young as seven years old being sexually abused by adults, which he also distributed. Images were also discovered including children as young as three.

Newport Crown Court heard that when officers from the National Crime Agency (NCA) attended Hill's home in Taff Terrace in Cardiff, they were invited in by Hill who said: "I know why you're here. I'm sorry I made a mistake, I only done it a couple of times.

"I done it on this phone. I'm surprised you're here for just a small amount. I don't know why I done it, I don't even enjoy it."

A key figure during the campaigns leading up to the two devolution referendums in 1997 and 2011, Hill was a well-known person within welsh politics.

The latter vote decided whether to give more law-making powers to the Welsh Parliament.

In 2006 Hill founded Positif Politcs, a lobbying group which offered advice to companies and organisations seeking to lobby politicians.

In 2020, he resigned as managing director and chairman, but was only removed as a company director in September 2021, according to documents filed to Companies House.

The company was renamed Camlas a short while later in November 2021.

During mitigation, barrister Jeffrey Jones said Hill "knew his world had to come to an end" following his arrest in September 2021.

He said: "It was a job and career which brought some success to [Hill] and financial security to him. It all ended and he severed links with businesses he was involved with." 

Sentencing, the Recorder of Cardiff Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke said there were "a number of significant aggravating features" in the case including the age of the children depicted and the fact he had been distributed.

She added: "Those who view child sexual abuse images contribute to the trade of child abuse images therefore the abuse of children. Their suffering is made worse by being being viewed by someone like you for their own sexual gratification."

Hill was also made subject to a sexual harm prevention order and sex offender notification requirements for life.

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