A shocking case of child abuse has resulted in a 25-year-old teaching assistant, Tommy Allington, being sentenced to 24 years in prison. Allington, who subjected an infant to a sustained campaign of sexual abuse, was found guilty at Swansea Crown Court.
The horrifying details of the case emerged after police received intelligence regarding indecent images shared on Instagram, eventually leading them to discover a secret phone concealed in Allington’s attic.
Disturbingly, Allington had downloaded over 1,500 images depicting child sexual abuse and had produced his own videos and photos of these reprehensible acts, which allowed investigators to identify the young victim.
Moreover, Allington had shared these abhorrent images via the messaging app Telegram with fellow paedophiles, using the username “AngelBoy.” In chilling conversations with his contacts, he discussed the advantages of abusing infants, as they were unable to communicate or report the abuse.
Detectives managed to identify the young victim and promptly contacted his parents. The child’s mother positively identified her son as the victim in the images and videos.
Concerned about the potential risk Allington posed to children, the judge handed down an extended sentence as a dangerous offender, expressing fears that he would continue to pose a threat once released from prison.
Prosecutor Robin Rouch detailed how police executed a search warrant at Allington’s residence in the Penlan area of Swansea in April, initially finding nothing incriminating on the devices seized. However, a further mobile phone was discovered in the attic, leading to Allington’s apprehension.
Of the more than 1,500 indecent images found, 252 were classified as Category A, representing the most severe forms of child abuse.
Heart-wrenching statements from the victim’s parents were presented to the court, describing the devastating impact of Allington’s actions. They expressed concerns about the long-term effects on their son, noting that the child’s behavior had changed significantly.
Allington, residing in Heol Cadifor, Penlan, Swansea, had previously pleaded guilty to a total of 17 counts related to child rape, sexual assault, causing a child to engage in sexual activity, possessing indecent images of children, distributing indecent images of children, and possessing prohibited images.
Stuart John, Allington’s defense attorney, acknowledged the gravity of the offenses and the inevitability of a lengthy custodial sentence. He also noted the stigma attached to such offenses, which would haunt the defendant for the rest of his life.
Judge Catherine Richards expressed her concerns about the victimization of a young and vulnerable child who could not resist or report the abuse. She emphasized the critical timing of the abuse during the child’s development, making it impossible to fully grasp the long-term consequences.
In light of the evidence, the judge declared Allington a dangerous offender and imposed an extended 24-year and eight-month sentence. This sentence includes 18 years and eight months in custody, followed by an extended license period of six years. Allington must serve two-thirds of the custodial element before being eligible for parole, subject to the Parole Board’s assessment.
Furthermore, Allington has been designated a registered sex offender for life and is subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.
South Wales Police Detective Constable Amanda Jenkins, who investigated the case, commented, “Offenses of this kind will always be shocking and disturbing, particularly when that person is in a position of trust. This will undoubtedly be difficult news for the local community, but please be assured that our teams and partners have safeguarded and supported all those involved in the investigation. The victim’s family has shown incredible strength and courage throughout this case.”
