04-07-2025
Paedophile runs from questions after trying to get court order dropped
Paedophile runs from questions after trying to get court order dropped
Paul Buckland claimed the restriction was preventing him from accepting a promotion at work
A paedophile tried to get a court order lifted after being offered a promotion. Paul Buckland, from Cardiff, was handed a sexual offences prevention order in 2011 after he admitted a long list of crimes involving horrific child abuse images – but this week he appeared in court to argue the restriction should be dropped because he needed unbridled internet access to "become a supervisor" at work.
The 45-year-old's bid to get the order discharged went awry when a Cardiff Magistrates' Court judge informed him he was also under a second order – imposed in 2016 because he had failed to comply with the first one. Realising he would need to overturn not just one but two restrictions Buckland withdrew his application and said he would seek further legal advice.
In 2011 he pleaded guilty at Cardiff Magistrates' Court to 17 counts of making an indecent photo of a child and one of possessing an extreme pornographic image of a person "performing oral sex with a horse".
Paul Buckland leaves Cardiff Magistrates' Court
(Image: Conor Gogarty )
The titles of the files referred to an eight-year-old "Mexican girl", a 10-year-old "girl from Russia", and a "preteen 12-year-old Lolita". They also included the words "pedo" [sic], "childlover", and descriptions of grotesque sex acts.
At the time the court imposed 35 days of sex offender treatment and a sexual offences prevention order. It states Buckland must not use a computer unless it has software to prevent access to child abuse images. The order also bars him from using a mobile phone with internet access.
Article continues below
However it does include exceptions for using a computer at work or while under supervision so it is not clear why Buckland felt it was holding him back from taking a promotion.
His recent application called for the order to be removed on the grounds that "he has been in full-time employment for 18 months and he has been asked by employers to train to become a supervisor for which he will require internet access".
This week, when a suited Buckland appeared at the magistrates' court, the prosecutor Nicholas Evans pointed out he had failed to consider that he was also under a sexual harm prevention order imposed in 2016 by Cardiff Crown Court. That order was handed down because he had breached the 2011 restriction by using the internet without software to prevent him accessing illicit material.
Paul Buckland leaves Cardiff Magistrates' Court
(Image: Conor Gogarty )
Mr Evans said there were "concerns" over Buckland's application not only because of his 2011 and 2016 convictions but also a 2020 caution for breaching a notification requirement.
District Judge Rhys Williams noted that the 2011 and 2016 orders were "virtually identical" and that there appeared to be "some confusion" on Buckland's part over how many orders he was under.
The judge told Buckland the 2016 order could not be discharged by the magistrates' court because it was made by a higher court.
Buckland, of Penlline Street in Roath, was advised he would have to make an application to Cardiff Crown Court if he wanted a judge to consider discharging that order. He replied: "I think I'll withdraw my application and get more advice."
As Buckland left court we asked him if he would be putting an application to the crown court. You can watch footage of him fleeing our questions at the top of this page.
Article continues below
