A PENARTH paedophile concealed electronic devices from the police that were found to be fully charged.

Robert Pugh, of the town’s Tennyson Road, concealed a computer, laptop, tablet, and computer tower from authorities when they executed a warrant on his address in March.

Pugh, 69, was originally given four years in prison and placed under a sexual harm prevention order at Cardiff Crown Court in 2020 for being in possession of indecent images of children and extreme pornography.

As part of his sentence, Pugh was not allowed to possess certain items – including said items found in this case - without police permission.

While all the items discovered at Pugh’s address in March were in working order, nothing untoward has been found on them.

When five police officers arrived at his address on the day in question, they found the computer in a cardboard box, the laptop in storage under the stairs, the tablet behind a cushion on a chair, and a computer tower in a blue recycling bag in a cupboard under puzzles.

Pugh’s excuses for having the items and not telling police included saying he forgot they were there, and he realised he should have admitted possession.

Pugh pleaded guilty to breaching his sexual harm prevention order at Cardiff Magistrates Court on April 11.

He has six previous convictions for 14 offences including possessing indecent images of children.

At a sentencing hearing at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on May 2, Judge Jenkins said there had been a “flagrant” and “deliberate” disregard for the restrictions installed.

For the breach, Pugh was given eight months in prison suspended for 18 months and made to do 120 hours unpaid work.

He was also placed under another sexual harm prevention order for a further ten years and made to pay costs of £420.