Sex offender case adjourned for fourth time after his report was hit by national tech breakdown
Sex offender case adjourned for fourth time after his report was hit by national tech breakdown
A sex offender who illegally hid a laptop under a kitchen counter and has admitted making indecent images of children, will have to wait another month to be sentenced.
Joey Morgan, 53, of Ithon Road, Llandrindod Wells, pleaded guilty to making indecent images of children, breaching his sexual harm prevention order and a single theft charge when he appeared at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, July 11 2026.
He also admitted two counts of making indecent images of children when he attended at Merthyr Tydfil Magistrates Court on September 29 2026.
Morgan is subject to indefinite notification requirements and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) after being convicted in 2019 of making indecent images of children.
In 2021, he was further convicted for breach offences and possession of indecent images of children, while living in the Gwent area.
He appeared at Cardiff Crown Court on Wednesday, November 4 to be sentenced but the court was told a pre-sentence report had not been completed.
Mitigating, Jenny Yeo said a court link was scheduled for October 20 to interview him for the report. But it was cancelled by HMP Parc because of the national technology breakdown. She said no new appointment had been arranged.
It is the fourth time Morgan's sentencing has been adjourned. Morgan has twice failed to attend the crown court, once saying he was 'too busy' to attend and then refusing to leave his cell.
Then on the last occasion at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court, Ms Yeo asked for an adjournment for the pre-sentence report to be prepared.
On Monday, July 6, plain-clothes officers witnessed the 53-year-old using a black Acer laptop, which had not been registered with police, in the public area of a Llandrindod hotel.
Under the conditions of his SHPO, Morgan was prohibited from owning any devices for using the internet or storing data, unless he notified the police within three days of purchase.
By Thursday, July 9, the black Acer laptop still had not been registered with police and Morgan was arrested in Llandrindod Wells on suspicion of breaching his sexual harm prevention order.
With the suspect taken into custody, a team of search officers, detectives, and a specialist digital detection dog from South Wales Police, carried out an intensive search of his address in Llandrindod Wells.
At the property, the digital detection dog found the black Acer laptop hidden underneath the kitchen counter, concealed by a removable wooden plinth.
Search officers also found an SD card under the hallway carpet, and a hand-held games console tucked away at the back of the mailbox in the communal area of the property.
None of the devices had been registered with police.
Digital forensics work uncovered that the SD contained hundreds of indecent images which included Category B and C images.
He also confessed to stealing the games console during his police interview.
Previously Ms Yeo said Morgan had previously been diagnosed with depression.
She said he was sorry for the number of times he had refused to attend court and he is being treated currently, and is waiting for reassessment.
Ms Yeo said Morgan is very keen to get some help.
Recorder Mr Dyfed Thomas warned Morgan in October that this would be his last chance.
“If he should not attend either his probation appointment or not attend court on the next occasion, the judge will simply sentence him in his absence.
“He should be warned that some judges do see failing to attend court as a contempt of court, which is a separate penalty.”
He ordered a pre-sentence report and adjourned the case until December 2.
Morgan will remain in prison until that date.