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Soldier guilty of sex kidnap plan Soldier guilty of sex kidnap plan
(31 minutes later)
A soldier has been found guilty of inciting two people to kidnap young girls so he could sexually abuse them.A soldier has been found guilty of inciting two people to kidnap young girls so he could sexually abuse them.
Kenneth Gardner, 29, of Resolven, near Neath, had ordered chloroform over the internet and was using chatrooms to find an accomplice.Kenneth Gardner, 29, of Resolven, near Neath, had ordered chloroform over the internet and was using chatrooms to find an accomplice.
He denied the charge and told Swansea Crown Court it was a "fantasy" and he never intended going through with it.He denied the charge and told Swansea Crown Court it was a "fantasy" and he never intended going through with it.
The Royal Artillery Regiment soldier was caught by staff at an internet cafe who monitored his online activities.The Royal Artillery Regiment soldier was caught by staff at an internet cafe who monitored his online activities.
The court heard he visited the Crossfire internet and gaming centre on Swansea's Princess Way on 15 July, 2006, where he tried to order chloroform from a company in Scotland. After the jury took less than an hour to convict Gardener he was remanded in custody by Mr Justice John Saunders who adjourned sentencing for psychiatric reports.
The judge went on to demand answers as to why it had taken 19 months to bring the case to court.
He said: "It seems to me that the verdicts of the jury at least raise an issue as to whether this man is dangerous and dangerous to young girls, potentially very dangerous - duty requires me to remand him in custody.
"I find the delays in this case are something that requires investigation."
Prosecutor Jim Davies said he understood the hi-tech crime unit examining the evidence had been "somewhat overwhelmed" by a substantial backlog, but that he would contact the Crime Prosecution Service (CPS) and ask them to prepare a report in time for Gardner's sentencing.
The court heard staff at an internet cafe monitored Mr Gardner
During the trial Mr Davis had told the court Gardener visited the Crossfire internet and gaming centre on Swansea's Princess Way on 15 July, 2006, where he tried to order chloroform from a company in Scotland.
He then accessed chatrooms on the internet and started asking for pictures of young girls.He then accessed chatrooms on the internet and started asking for pictures of young girls.
He returned the following day and logged on to MSN Messenger and Face Party using the names "Kenny" and "Enigma 78".He returned the following day and logged on to MSN Messenger and Face Party using the names "Kenny" and "Enigma 78".
Staff monitored him discussing drugging young girls so he could sexually assault them. The court heard that Gardner wrote that he offered a kidnap service and that he wanted to drug and kidnap a young girl of seven or eight.
In one exchange on a chatroom Gardner asked one person, only known by his alias, whether he would like to "try drugging girls".
When the response was reluctant about that Gardner suggested "grabbing them as they walk home".
In a similar exchange when someone answered "maybe" to a suggestion of drugging and kidnapping a child, Gardner then added that "they could both do her".
Bondage websites
The store's proprietor took screen grabs of Gardner's activities from a separate computer, unknown to him.The store's proprietor took screen grabs of Gardner's activities from a separate computer, unknown to him.
He then sent a member of staff to the nearby police station and Gardner was arrested.He then sent a member of staff to the nearby police station and Gardner was arrested.
Police recovered a laptop from his car that contained 23 indecent images of children and a further seven images were found in deleted files.Police recovered a laptop from his car that contained 23 indecent images of children and a further seven images were found in deleted files.
In police interview Gardner said he had a fetish about kidnapping but did not intend to carry it out.In police interview Gardner said he had a fetish about kidnapping but did not intend to carry it out.
Gardener was remanded in custody by the judge Mr Justice Saunders who adjourned sentencing for psychiatric reports. Huw Rees, defending, said Gardner volunteered information to officers that he had a kidnap fetish.
He told Gardener the fact the jury had returned a guilty verdict raised issues of whether he was a danger to the public and to young girls. Mr Rees said Gardner went on to tell police that he had been looking at abduction and bondage websites for about six months.
Mr Rees had told the jury: "You may not like it, but he meant no harm and had no intention to incite anybody to kidnap anybody at all."