22 June 2023 , 14:01
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A former MasterChef contestant who attempted to blackmail police after he was caught with child abuse images has been jailed.
Caerwyn Ash, 41, threatened to leak 'explicit' pictures of police officers unless charges of possessing indecent images were dropped, but today, he has been sentenced to three years in jail for his crimes.
The former MasterChef contestant appeared in the 2016 series of the popular BBC show and was arrested after being accused of possessing child sex abuse images.
A court heard last month that Ash threatened to release 'explicit' pictures of officers unless his case was dropped.
Ash was working as an associate professor of medical devices at the time of his appearance on the show.
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Former MasterChef contestant Caerwyn Ash has been jailed for three years (BBC)Officers raided his partner's home and seized a number of devices in April 2019, Swansea Crown Court heard.
Prosecutor James Wilson said child abuse images and bestiality videos were found on a hard drive and computer tower from a garden office.
Mr Wilson said: "The day before Ash was due to appear at magistrates' court he went to Swansea police station with a letter addressed to the "Head of CID".
In the letter Ash called for the charges against him to be dropped.
Mr Wilson told the court he would "create an earthquake" by publishing compromising material involving police officers engaged in sex acts.
He said: "Ash said he would use a trusted friend in the Press Association to bring the material into the public domain."
Ash, of St Thomas, Swansea, denied nine charges of possessing indecent images, prohibited images, and extreme pornography, and one of attempting to pervert the course of public justice.
Newport Crown Court was told he still maintains his innocence despite police finding more than 100 indecent images (Media Wales)Newport Crown Court was told he still maintains his innocence despite police finding more than 100 indecent images.
However, Judge Wayne Beard told him: "You have not accepted the jury's verdict and in light of that there is no prospect of any rehabilitation taking place by means of the probation service.
"You created a document which in effect said would result in the release of videos of police officers if the court case was not stopped.
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"I've no doubt your intent was to bring the other charges that you faced to an end.
"I consider the seriousness includes the nature of the conduct in which you were engage; making threats towards police officers involved in aspects of their private lives - whether true or not.
"You indicated you had already provided members of the press with videos of those police officers. This was a deliberate, manipulative and cynical attempt.
"However it was an attempt that was very unlikely ever to succeed in any way, shape or form."
Officers also found a computer tower containing 30 images of child abuse and one video, as well as 28 images involving animals and five videos.
The offences are alleged to have taken place between 2005-2019.