Latest Offenders Swansea

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A former Bishop from Swansea has been jailed after pleading guilty to multiple child sex offences.

Anthony Pierce, 84, from Swansea Vale, pleaded guilty – at Swansea Crown Court on Friday, February 7, 2025 – to five counts of indecent assault on a child under the age of 16.

He has today been sentenced to four years and one month in prison. Upon release, he will be made subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. He will be on the sex offenders register for life.

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THIS Pontarddulais sex offender sent a picture of his penis to who he thought was a 13-year-old girl, having already repeatedly breached a court order.

Daniel Owens was described by a judge as “undeterrable”, as he returned to court to be sentenced for his latest offences.

The court heard that Owens had previously been sentenced three times for breaching his sexual harm prevention order.

Addressing the defendant, Judge Paul Thomas KC said: “Despite all that assistance, despite all those chances, none of those constructive sentences have brought about any change.”

He sentenced Owens to a total of 18 months imprisonment, with an additional two-year extended licence period.

Swansea Crown Court heard that Owens contacted who he thought was a young girl on an online messaging application on October 6. The ‘girl’ was actually a decoy account.

Prosecutor Regan Walters said the defendant’s profile read: “Here to have some fun and spread my seed”, and included a topless picture of himself.

Owens asked the ‘girl’ to move the conversation on to WhatsApp or Snapchat, and the decoy said they were 13 years old. However, he continued to send her his number and asked her to message him on WhatsApp.

The defendant video called the decoy three times and phoned them in order to try and verify they were a real child, Mr Walters said.

Owens turned the conversion sexual, and messaged “Would you like to see it though” and sent a picture of his penis.

He also solicited sexual pictures, and told the ‘girl’ that he would show him ejaculating to them.

The defendant was reported to the police, and South Wales Police attended his address on November 1.

Owens was arrested, and officers seized his phone, laptop and PlayStation console. They also seized a telescopic baton.

He admitted he was the only person who had access to the messages on his phone, and added that he wasn’t aware that it was against the law to have a telescopic baton.

The court heard that Owens was a registered sex offender, and had been made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order in 2016 after being sentenced for sexual assault.

Owens, 29, of Fford Cambria in Pontarddulais, pleaded guilty to attempted sexual communication with a child, sending a photograph of his genitals to cause alarm, distress or humiliation, breaching a sexual harm prevention order, and possessing an offensive weapon in private place.

“He’s undeterrable isn’t he?,” said Judge Thomas. “He continues to commit offences.”

Owens must register as a sex offender indefinitely.

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This is the face of a child sex offender who a judge said seemed ‘completely determined’ to breach a court order designed to prevent further offending.

Adrian John Thomas was sentenced to three years in prison last month, for four breaches of a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) and one offence of failing to comply with notification requirements.

Thomas, 31, of no fixed abode, was issued a SHPO and notification order in 2017 following a ‘serious child sexual offence’.

The court heard that he had breached the order a total of 15 times, including the most recent offences.

Thomas had been released from prison in October 2023 and moved to an approved address in Swansea.

In January 2024 he had moved to Pembrokeshire and had moved in with his mother who lived in sheltered housing. However, he registered with the police as being of no fixed address, breaching the notification requirement of his order.

He then took over his mother's iPhone despite her protests, adding a PIN and facial recognition to the device and creating two Instagram accounts, a Gmail account and a Facebook account. All in breach of the terms of the SHPO.

The court heard that these actions had caused his mother to feel distressed and trapped.

Thomas admitted four breaches of the SHPO and one offence of failing to comply with the notification requirement and appeared for sentencing at Swansea Crown Court on December 19.

In his defence it was said that he had moved in with his mother as he had no alternative accommodation other than a tent.

He was regretful of his actions and had sought support for his mental health.

Judge His Honour Paul Thomas said: “You seem completely determined to breach the sexual harm prevention order you were made subject of following conviction for a serious child sexual offence.

“You lied to police about where you were living. You used your mother’s phone against her wishes despite her begging you not to do so. You were on licence from an earlier offence.

“You are 31 You have amassed a very bad record for offences of this type. You appear undeterrable in your refusal to abide by the sexual harm prevention order.”

He sentenced Thomas to a total of three years in prison.

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A man pushed his way into a woman's caravan in the early hours of the morning and sexually assaulted her, a court has heard. James Birmingham pushed and threw the woman around the static home "like a rag doll" before carrying out a sex act on her.

Swansea Crown Court heard details of a statement from the woman in which she described the devastating emotional and psychological impact of the attack. She also described the "indignity'" of having to give evidence at her trial in front of strangers and of having her integrity challenged in court.

The court heard the assault happened in November last year at a caravan park on Gower. In the early hours of the morning the defendant knocked on the door of the victim's caravan and the woman, thinking there was some kind of problem on the site, got out of bed to see what was going on. The court heard the woman then tried to close the door on Birmingham, 47, but he pushed his way inside. During the course of the subsequent assault the defendant threw and pushed the woman around the caravan before sexually assaulting her.

In an impact statement read to the court the woman said he replays the attack over and over again in her head and said she cannot help but wonder whether it was somehow her fault. She said there is not a part of her which does not believe Birmingham was trying to rape her that night, and she said she now sees herself as a victim of a sexual assault and she feels she will never be the person she used to be. She said the Gower incident had "devastated" her life. The woman also described the "indignity" of having to go through a trial and relive the attack in front of strangers and of having her integrity challenged.

James Birmingham, of Pentregethin Road, Cwmbwrla, Swansea, had previously been convicted at trial of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and sexual assault when he returned to the dock for sentencing. He has previous convictions for motoring matters.

Hilary Roberts, for Birmingham, said "thoughtful and constructive" references before the court showed the defendant was well-regarded by people who knew him and showed he was not somebody who usually behaved in the way he had done on the night in question. He said a sentence of immediate custody would be "catastrophic" for the defendant, for his teenage son, and for his employment and he invited the court to consider suspending the custodial sentence that was due.

Judge Geraint Walters said after gaining entry to the caravan Birmingham had used "pretty relentless violence" and had thrown the woman around the caravan "like a rag doll" before sexually assaulting her. He said he had no doubt alcohol had played its part in the "hugely unpleasant" offending. Birmingham was sentenced to three years in prison and will serve up to half that period in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community. The defendant will be a registered sex offender for the rest of his life.

Description

A former PhD student has been jailed for conspiring to commit female genital mutilation (FGM) against a young girl in the first conviction of its kind in England and Wales.

Emad Kaky, 47, from Swansea, arranged for the child to travel from the UK to Iraq where he had organised for her to be subjected to FGM and forced into marriage.

Before the crimes could be carried out, Kaky’s plans were uncovered by a witness who arranged for the victim to travel back to the UK and reported him to the police.

Kaky was arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit FGM and forced marriage, which he denied. He was convicted on 9 September after a ten-day trial at Nottingham Crown Court and was today sentenced to four and a half years’ imprisonment.

Janine McKinney, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS East Midlands, said: “Today, Emad Kaky has faced the consequences of his actions in trying to get a young, innocent girl subjected to female genital mutilation and to be forced into a marriage not of her choosing.

“Had he succeeded in his plans, this child would have suffered unimaginable physical and mental harm.

“During the trial we presented evidence that the defendant considered this behaviour to be normal. The law is clear that there is no place for this unacceptable practice in society and the Crown Prosecution Service, police and other law enforcement agencies will work together to bring perpetrators to justice.

“This has been a landmark prosecution, not just because it is the first conviction of its kind, but for the message it sends to people who may be vulnerable to this horrific form of abuse. Where there is evidence that people have plotted to commit these offences, they face prosecution, whether or not they succeed.”

Building the Case

Before the trial, the defence team put forward a legal argument for dismissal, so the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) had to show that FGM is a criminal offence in Iraq.

We also had to demonstrate that, as part of the conspiracy to commit FGM, Kaky had committed an act in England and Wales, where they have jurisdiction to prosecute.

Instructing a legal expert in the law of Iraq, our prosecutors were able to point to an area of the Iraqi penal code which outlined it as an offence – resulting in the defence dropping their argument and the case being able to proceed.

Proving that Kaky had committed an act in England and Wales as part of the conspiracy, prosecutors presented evidence that showed he had booked and paid for the trip to Iraq while living in Nottingham.

Messages retrieved from his phone showed Kaky clearly intended for the victim to be subjected to FGM and forced into marriage. He went on to defend his actions when a witness challenged him, calling FGM and forced marriage “normal”.

To further help the jury understand what FGM involves, the prosecution secured evidence from a cultural expert, who gave evidence about the practices and the physical and psychological harm it can inflict on victims.

It is the first time a person in England and Wales has been convicted of conspiring to commit FGM.

During the sentencing, the prosecution made submissions that, although the plan ultimately failed, the case should be sentenced on the basis of the harm that Kaky intended to do to the victim by arranging for FGM to take place.

Description

A convicted sex offender claimed to be a teacher and sent pictures of his penis to someone he thought was a 12-year-old girl, a court has heard. In fact Timothy Edwards was communicating with an undercover police officer.

Swansea Crown Court heard Edwards used a false name and a picture of a cat in his online profile - a picture which turned out to be a snap of the family cat which had been taken in the conservatory of the family home. The court also heard the defendant began sending sexual messages and images to the online cop just weeks after being handed a suspended prison sentence for possession of images of children being sexually abused.

Alycia Carpanini, prosecuting, said in May, 2024, Edwards was given a sentence of eight months in prison suspended for two years and was made subject to a 10-year sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) after being convicted of making indecent images of children. As part of the order the defendant must notify police about any internet-enabled devices he owns, and he is prohibited form having social media accounts or online profiles in any name other than Timothy Edwards or an alternative that has not been approved by his offender manager.

The court heard that in June this year Edwards initiated contact with a profile purporting to be that of a 12-year-old girl on the networking platform Kik. The defendant had the username ThomWayne500 and his profile picture was of a black cat. The defendant began chatting to the "girl" and said he was a teacher from Bristol and said he was glad it was the school summer holidays. When the girl asked him if he was a teacher at her school Edwards said no, and said he would remember teaching a "cute young lady" like her.

The court heard the defendant then began making "suggestive" comments to the decoy and asking for pictures, and told her if she sent him a rude photo he would send one back. The prosecutor said Edwards then sent the decoy pictures of his erect penis - one showing him having just ejaculated - and sent her a series of sexual messages during which he said he wished he was her teacher and said he would give her private sex education lessons. The decoy send Edwards a picture of a girl in a shirt and stripped school-type tie and the defendant responded by calling her beautiful and saying he wanted to unbutton her shirt. He asked her for a selfie which he could use as a background picture on his phone ,and asked her for pictures of her in her bra and for topless snaps. For the latest court reports, sign up to our crime newsletter here

The court heard that on the morning of August 15 police officers went to the defendant's home address in Swansea and arrested him. After being cautioned the defendant said: "There is a Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra in the house and my wife knows where it is". Officers located and seized the mobile and on it found an email account in the name of ThomWayne500 which contained emails from the Kik, Telegram and Instagram platforms. The court heard the black cat depicted in the Kik profile Edwards was using appeared to be a snap of the Edwards' family cat taken in the conservatory at his home address. The court also heard that details in the background of the penis pictures which the defendant sent to the decoy were consistent with them having been taken in his bedroom at the property. The Samsung phone itself had not previously been disclosed to the police.

Edward Timothy, aged 24, of Cwmgelli Road, Morriston, Swansea, had previously pleaded guilty to breaching a sexual harm prevention, attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child - the charge is one of attempt as no real child was involved - and sending a photograph or film of genitals to cause alarm, distress or humiliation when he appeared in the dock for sentencing. He has one previous conviction for three offences of making - that is possessing - indecent images of categories A, B and C.

With credit for his guilty pleas Edwards was sentenced to 15 months in prison for the new offences and recorder Greg Bull KC activated the previously imposed eight month sentence in full to run consecutively making an overall sentence of 23 months in prison. A new 10-year sexual harm prevention order was imposed - albeit it an order with same terms as the previous one - and the defendant will be a registered sex offender for the next 10 years.

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A dad unwittingly took a prolific paedophile on holiday with his family. The parent was left "physically shaking" after finding out the man he had invited along was in fact a "devious" serial sex offender.

Andrew Priday, 61, had secretly obtained a passport and used it to go on a trip to Europe with the family in question, who knew nothing of his past.

He had lied about his real identity to the woman he was marrying and her family. The details emerged during a hearing a Swansea Crown Court, with his crimes described as "determined and devious".

Priday, who has already served two lengthy prison terms for child sex offences, was sentenced to 32 months behind bars for his latest offence.

The Mirror reports Leuan Rees, prosecuting, said that in 2005 Priday was given an extended 11-year sentence at Swansea Crown Court and made the subject of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order.

He was also put on the sex offenders register for life for a string of child sex offences, with part of the conditions for the order being he had to inform the police of any passports he has.

He was also told to tell police of any holiday plans at least a week before they leave. The court heard that in January 2021, Priday applied for and obtained a passport.

But during subsequent annual registration declarations he lied to police and said he did not have one. The court heard that in June this year a family with a child who knew him - but were unaware of his previous convictions - booked a holiday to Bulgaria.

As an afterthought they invited Priday to join them for the final week of their break. Priday flew from Cardiff Airport on June 17 and spent seven days at the family's holiday apartment.

Priday was also found to have a phone in his possession, a device he had not informed police about. The father of the holidaying family later told police he felt "sick" and was "physically shaking" when he learned of Priday's past convictions.

Priday had previously pleaded guilty to three counts of breaching a Sexual Offences Prevention Order and three counts of failing to abide by the requirements of the sex offenders registration scheme when he appeared in the dock for sentencing.

He has 12 previous convictions for 71 offences between 1997 and 2005, including 12 convictions for sexual offences. In 1995 he was sentenced to seven years in prison at Cardiff Crown Court for indecent assault of a child and gross indecency with a child.

In 2005 he was given an 11-year extended sentence as a dangerous offender for indecent assault of a child, sexual activity with a child, making indecent images, and possessing indecent images.

He also has convictions from Kent in 2002 for breaching the terms of the sex offenders register, for gaining pecuniary advantage by false pretences - failing to declare his past convictions when applying for a job.

He also made false statements about his offending history to his then wife-to-be when applying for a marriage licence. Andrew Evans, speaking for Priday, said there was no suggestion of inappropriate behaviour during the holiday.

But he accepted his client had 'faltered' on his requirements. Judge Geraint Walters said Priday seemed to have "given up on any pretence" of complying with the requirements of the sex offenders register and Sexual Offences Prevention Order.

He said the reality was his breaches were "determined and devious". With a one-third discount for his guilty pleas Priday was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison.

He will serve up to half of that period in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder of his sentence in the community.

Description

A man sexually assaulted and raped his partner while she was asleep, a court has heard. Daniel Blight even stopped during the assault to take a sick selfie photo.

The victim only realised the full extent of what had happened when she checked CCTV footage from her house. Blight has been jailed for seven years and the victim, Sarah Jones, has waived her legal anonymity to talk about what happened to her in her own home, a place she says she should have felt safe.

Swansea Crown Court heard the attack took place at Miss Jones' home in Aberdare in August 2022 while she and Blight were spending the evening together. After Miss Jones fell asleep on the sofa in the living room the defendant took the opportunity to sexually assault and rape her, taking an intimate selfie of himself as he did so. The court heard when Miss Jones awoke she was unaware of what had happened and the couple went to bed. Later that night she caught sight of the selfie on her boyfriend's phone and realised something was not right.

The next day after Blight had gone to work Miss Jones checked footage from the Hive CCTV camera in her living room - although trained on the inside of the front door, the camera also covered the sofa. It was then the 39-year-old coffee shop worker saw her boyfriend and assaulted had raped her while she was asleep. Talking after the sentencing she said: "I couldn't believe what I was watching. This was somebody I trusted. I was asleep in my own home. I should have been safe. It was such a massive abuse of trust. He was my partner and he claimed to love me."

Miss Jones said she phoned Blight to confront him about what happened, and he at first claimed she had been awake during the incident, then that he thought she was awake, and then finally admitted he knew she was asleep. Miss Jones ended the relationship but said the pair kept in touch over the following months while she encouraged Blight to have counselling as he "clearly had issues with sex". She said the pair briefly resuming their relationship at the end of 2022 but following another incident of an intimate nature the victim ended the relationship for good and reported the earlier assault to the police.

Daniel Blight, aged 37, of Buckingham Road, Bonymaen, Swansea, pleaded not guilty and at trial at Swansea Crown Court claimed he believed he had implied consent for sex with his partner. The jury convicted him of two counts of sexual assault by penetration and one count of rape. The defendant has one previous conviction for 13 offences of possession of indecent images from 2012 for which he was given a community order.

In mitigation barrister David Leathley said the defendant was "slavishly in a state of devotion" in regards to Miss Jones who was "the divinity he was worshiping". He said in his client's mind what he did on the night in question was "an act of worship" towards his partner. The barrister described the case as "truly bizarre" and said his client had been a "crass idiot" to act in the way he did.

Judge Huw Rees said a pre-sentence report on the defendant explored his "preoccupation" with sex which was a "predominant factor" in his life.. Blight was sentenced to seven years in prison comprising seven years for rape and four years for each of the sexual assaults all to run concurrently. He will serve two-thirds of that sentence in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community. The defendant will be a registered sex offender for the rest of his life, and was made the subject of a 1o-year restraining order banning him from contacting his former partner either directly or indirectly.

Miss Jones said the rape at the hands of someone she trusted has had a massive impact on her life. "If I'm honest I'm still trying to fully process what happened. It has affected my trust in everyone, and I feel so anxious and vulnerable. I used to be very sociable and enjoyed going out with friends, now I tend to avoid mixing with people. I'm worried about what the future may hold. How can I have trust in a future relationship? Invite someone into my house again?

"Waiting for the trial made my anxiety worse. I believe he [Blight] thought I would be too embarrassed to go through with the trial, too embarrassed to have the CCTV footage shown to a room of strangers. What he did to me can't be undone but if I can stop him doing it to anyone else I have to do it. What happened will stay with me for a long time - perhaps for the rest of my life. Hopefully with the conviction I can begin to move on."

Speaking after the sentencing South Wales Police detective constable Elizabeth Picton said: "Daniel Blight preyed upon his victim when they were completely helpless, but was crucially caught on camera in critical evidence for his conviction. At South Wales Police we relentlessly pursue the perpetrators of sexual offences and ensure that the victims receive justice. It takes great bravery for a victim to report a sexual offence, and this behaviour will never be tolerated."

Description

A sex offender spent years frequenting schools, parks, and children's parties after deceiving police about his living situation.

Lorry driver Robert Bevan, who is under a lifelong sexual harm prevention order intended to restrict his access to children, but for years went about normal family life apparently without any of the other parents he came into contact with being aware of his past.

Swansea Crown Court heard there was no suggestion he has sexually offended since his last sentence in 2011 but for years lied to the police and his offender manager about his domestic situation. Sending Bevan down a judge told him he had deliberately withheld information from the police and now the time had come to pay the price, reports WalesOnline.

Harry Dickens, prosecuting, said Bevan's sexual offending began in 2007 when he was sentenced for engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child under 13 and continued with convictions in 2009 for engaging in sexual activity with a child, taking indecent images of chid, exposure, and outraging public decency and in 2011 for further acts of exposure and outraging public decency. The court heard the defendant is subject to a lifelong sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) designed to control his access to children and is a registered sex offender.

The barrister said around seven years ago Bevan embarked on long-term relationship with a woman he met through a dating website. During this time Bevan would do school runs, attend parks and soft play areas, and go to children's parties. The court heard that though Bevan had been managed by a sexual offender manager for some 14 years he had never once disclosed the details of his new domestic arrangements nor disclosed that he was a father. There is no suggestion of any new sexual offending since the defendant's last conviction.

The court heard the failure to abide by the terms of the SHPO came to light in April this year when police made unannounced visits to an address he had registered in Swansea. The defendant was not home but was spoken to on the phone and told officers he was only at the address infrequently due to his work as a long-distance lorry driver. Bevan was required to provide a list of places where he was "tramping" – that is places where he was sleeping overnight as part of his job – and police then searched his vehicle. The court heard officers found children's toys in the vehicle along with letters in the defendant's name which were addressed to his mother's house. When police searched his mother's property they found bedrooms with children's beds and drawers full of children's clothes.

Robert Bevan, aged 36, of St Helen's Road, Swansea, had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of breaching a sexual harm prevention order and failing to comply with the requirements of the sex offenders registration scheme. He has six previous convictions for 27 offences some 22 of which are sexual offences. For the latest court reports sign up to our crime newsletter here.

John Allchurch, for Bevan, said after being released from his last custodial sentence the defendant had taken steps to turn his life around, successfully addressing his Class A drug addiction and training to be an advanced HGV driver. He said his client accepts he made a "massive mistake" by not notifying the police of the nature of his domestic arrangements and said he realises that when he is released from custody he will have to work with the authorities. The advocate added that Bevan's mother, father, and sister were at court to support him.

Judge Geraint Walters said Bevan had committed a "flagrant and persistent" breach of court orders which had been imposed due to the defendant's offending including his "history of disturbing exposure" offences. He said the defendant had taken a deliberate decision to withhold information from the police and would now have to pay the price. With a one-third discount for his guilty pleas Bevan was sentenced to two years in prison. He will serve up to half the sentence in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community.

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A man from Swansea has been jailed for multiple child sex offences.

34-year-old Phillip Bowler, from Mount Pleasant, sent messages of a sexual nature to a child before arranging a meeting to force them to delete the messages. He then touched the victim inappropriately.

Bowler later sent multiple further communications to the child, making considerable effort to incite them into sexual activity. He also sent the victim a video of himself which was of a sexual nature.

Phillip Bowler has been sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison for engaging in sexual communications with a child, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and for arranging/facilitating of child sexual offences.

He will be a registered sex offender for life.

Description

An evil sex abuser made his child victim so fearful she even dreaded her beloved dad tucking her into bed at night. William Stuart James, now 86, first attacked his victim when she was under 10 years old and ignored her pleas begging him to stop.

James, of Waun y Felin, Penclawdd, Swansea, repeatedly assaulted his victim during a period of time in the 1970s. His abuse included digital penetration, kissing and touching parts of her body until she felt pain. He also forced her to touch his penis.

A second campaign of abuse happened in the 1980s when the victim was a young teenager. By this point, James' actions escalated to rape. He also forced her to touch his body and masturbate him.

After evading justice for more than four decades while his victim lived, silenced by fear, James was found guilty on March 22 at Cardiff Crown Court following a trial. He faced eight counts of indecent assault and one of rape before being sentenced to 14 years in prison.

In a powerful victim impact statement read out to the court, his victim - who has automatic lifelong anonymity - described how James' actions permeated every part of her life and even made her fear the people she loved.

Now in her 50s, she told the court: "You put me in impossible situations where I had to endure things that made me feel broken, dirty and deeply distressed. From the first incident I felt terrified of you and increasingly of all men, even my precious dad as he tucked me into bed. You robbed me of growing into a person who trusts men and can eventually have a normal sexual relationship.

"I cannot do certain intimate things and have anxiety in the middle of them and at times even kissing puts me straight back into the past. Because of what you did I struggled to breastfeed my precious babies and having simple things like a bath cause me anxiety as I want to cover up as quick as possible."

She explained how she had always struggled with understanding her identity as a direct result of James' actions and resented parts of her own body. "[I] have always felt immense guilt and thought something was wrong with my body and it always felt dirty. I grew up believing my body was ugly and deformed," she said.

Despite being a "naturally happy" person, she described how James' actions caused her intense anxiety and fear throughout her life. She tried to speak out about what happened, but said the fear would stop her in her tracks. She added: "Your insistence of me promising never to tell anyone caused me immense pressure and silent worry. I felt forced to act in a certain way in front of everyone and not show anything was wrong. I carried the heaviest burden whilst you lived your successful life.

"My life has been far from successful, after what you did to me, my ability to learn was ruined as I couldnt ask for help or explain myself at all as I was full of nerves. I never caught up or felt I achieved in education. I was robbed of my confidence and voice and have always struggled to say what my needs are and ask for help

"Even my school reports said I was a nervous and anxious child. I felt totally alone at school and growing up was made worse after Id gone through puberty and another dreadful time where Id endured repeats and escalations of sexual abuse by you.

"I felt manipulated and whilst you insisted everything was ok and just as it should be, my inability to understand what was happening to me made me feel worthless. The things you whispered in my ears play over and over again when I least expect them, and flashbacks of the incidents have plagued my mind til this day. I have struggled to regulate my feelings and often turned to alcohol and struggled with eating problems

"I find it hard to express myself at times and often feel insecure and misunderstood. Naturally I am a happy, friendly person, but the silent pain that I as a young child began to carry has overshadowed all of my life to this day. For many years it felt like a little person inside was crying out please help me but I could never speak that out."

Addressing James, she said: "Can you for one minute think about what it was like for me to be forced to do sexual stuff with you and then walk out of those rooms and immediately act as if everything was okay. The immensity of anxiety to try to hide what had just happened in those rooms was deeply distressing. Equally, the desperation to tell someone was soul destroying as I knew I couldnt."

She asked him if he had "any idea how gut wrenching my cries were" for her mummy and daddy to take her away from him. "No-one heard and no-one helped me or comforted me. You were solely responsible for all of that."

She thanked friends and family for supporting her and giving her the courage to report James' crimes to the police in 2021. She said: "I have tried throughout the years to talk about what happened and to get help but Ive found this difficult. It is through friends and family that I've had the strength to talk to the police now. I have felt guilt over this as I never wanted to hurt anyone, but I decided that this deep pain must come to an end and speaking the truth out loud will help me finally start to heal."

Concluding her statement, she told the court how James had said "sorry" twice during phone calls, but never showed "any remorse or acknowledgement of the pain he made [her] endure".

She added: "You have always spoken with convincing words and it has been said many times what a good man you are. You convinced everyone around you to believe it. But now, finally, the truth of your total lack of morality, self-discipline and real love is evident for all who are here to see. Everything in your life has always come down to you having your own way and your sexual appetite being gratified. The boundaries that stop normal people crossing, you cross with ease."

Description

A former teacher sent pictures of his penis to what he believed was a 12-year-old girl, a court has heard. In fact Rhodri Jones was engaging in sexual conversations online with an undercover police officer.

Swansea Crown Court heard Jones' teaching career came to an end following concerns raised by parents about his "inappropriate behaviour" with girls which included flirting with a 16-year-old student and offering her private tuition. Sending the defendant to prison a judge told him he clearly had an "entrenched sexual interest in young women and children".

Sian Cutter, prosecuting, said on June 14, 2022, the defendant initiated contact with a profile on the social media platform Chatiw which purported to belong to a 12-year-old girl - in reality the profile was a decoy account being operated by an undercover police officer. The prosecutor said Jones and the decoy exchanged messages on the site before he gave the decoy his Snapchat details and the conversation moved to that app. The court heard that during the conversation Jones boasted to the "girl" about the size of his penis, and also sent her a number of pictures of his penis.

The following month officers went to the defendant's house and arrested him. Officers seized a number of electronic devices and also took a picture of the blankets on his bed, bedding which matched that seen in the background of the pictures he had sent the decoy. He subsequently answered "no comment" to all questions asked in interview.

Rhodri Jones, 44, of Phoebe Road, Copper Quarter, Swansea, had previously pleaded guilty to attempted sexual communications with a child when he appeared in the dock for sentencing. He has a previous conviction from 2016 for sending indecent images to an 18-year-old girl. The court heard a series of concerns had been raised about Jones' conduct and "inappropriate behaviour" during his teaching career between 2003 and 2011 which included him harassing a pupil, offering to give a girl a lift in his car, and flirting with a 16-year-old girl and offering her private tuition.

Alycia Carpanini, for Jones, said the defendant was a binge drinker, and the offending happened when he was drunk. She said her client was a carer for his mother who was in ill-health, and that he works online for a university book publisher in an administration role. Jones had completed the Horizon sex offenders programme following his previous conviction, the court heard. The barrister also pointed to the delay in the case with the offending taking place in June 2022 and the matter not coming before the courts until January 2024.

Judge Daniel Williams told the defendant it was clear he had an "entrenched sexual interest in young women and girls", and said a pre-sentence report had concluded he posed a high risk of serious harm. He said he did not think there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation in Jones' case, and said the offending was far too serious for any sentence other than one of immediate custody. With a one-third discount for his guilty plea, Jones was sentenced to 12 months in prison - he will serve up to half that sentence in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community. The defendant will be on the sex offenders register for the next 10 years and was made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order for the same length of time.

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A man videoed himself sexually assaulting a woman, a court has heard. Dean Jones then told his victim that nobody else would want her after what he had done.

Swansea Crown Court heard the 34-year-old defendant's victim had been left suffering with anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Dean Jones, of Mill Street, Tonyrefail, had previously been convicted at trial of sexual assault by penetration. He has previous convictions for driving with excess alcohol and public disorder.

Tim Evans, for Jones, said his client had given evidence at trial and the jury had made its decisions and as the defendant's barrister he could not go behind that. He said Jones wanted this to be the last time he appeared before any criminal court let alone a crown court.

Judge Catherine Richards sentenced Jones to 10 years in prison. He must serve two-thirds of that sentence in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community. Jones was made the subject of a 10-year restraining order banning him from contacting his victim and will be a registered sex offender for the rest of his life.

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Despite using a fake name on his Facebook page Barnard was identified by members of the vigilante groups who then turned up at his house before calling the police. The defendant's advocate told Swansea Crown Court that his client's life had been a "lonely one" and he had spent increasing amounts of time online.

Georgia Donohue, prosecuting, said the offending took place in November 2022 when the defendant, using the name William Stanley on Facebook, contacted the profiles of what appeared to be 14-year-old girls. She said profiles were actually decoy accounts being operated by adults acting as part of online paedophile hunter groups. The court heard Barnard started messaging the first profile and asked her whether she had a boyfriend and asked her if she had ever heard odd noises coming from her parents' bedroom. The pair then exchanged phone numbers and began communicating by text.

Later that month Barnard began messaging a second Facebook profile and his conversation with what he thought was another 14-year-old girl quickly turned sexual in nature. The court heard the defendant talked about masturbation with the girl and said he would teach the child how to do it. He also told her all men would want sex with her because she was "beautiful" but they couldn't because of her age and told her to keep their conversation secret.

The prosecutor said by December 1 the two groups behind the decoy profiles identified Barnard as the person behind the William Stanley Facebook page and turned up at his home address. Police were contacted and Barnard was arrested at 7.22pm that evening. In his subsequent interview the defendant answered "no comment" to all questions asked.

Andrew Barnard, now aged 56, of Brynmill Avenue, Brynmill, Swansea, had previously pleaded guilty to attempted sexual communications with a child and to attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity when he appeared in the dock for sentencing. He has no previous convictions.

Dan Griffiths, for Barnard, said it was acknowledged there was only one kind of sentence the court could impose and his mitigation went only to the length of the custodial sentence. He said Barnard experienced an "extremely difficult childhood" at the hands of his abusive father and at an early age was diagnosed with depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. He said Barnard's life had been a "lonely one" and he had spent increasing amounts of time online. The advocate said it was still to be explored whether the defendant's "adverse childhood experiences" were correlated to his offending but he said Barnard was anxious to take advantage of any help that professionals could provide.

Judge Geraint Walters told Barnard that the public have a "huge distaste" for the kind of behaviour he had engaged in. With a one-quarter discount for his guilty pleas Barnard was sentenced to 27 months in prison. He will serve up to half that period in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community. The defendant will be a registered sex offender for the next 10 years and was made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order for the same length of time to manage his access to the internet. Sending the defendant down the judge told him if he had been talking to real girls rather than decoys his sentence would have been "a great deal longer".

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A man who subjected a young girl to a decade of rapes and sexual assaults has been given an extended 16 year sentence. Henry Wilson began to abuse his victim when she was aged just five.

Swansea Crown Court heard details of the impact Wilson's offending has had on his victim, and police have praised the bravery of the female in coming forward to report what happened while acknowledging that no sentence can give the victim her childhood back.

Henry Steven Wilson, aged 59, of Matthew Street, Dyfatty, Swansea, had previously pleaded guilty to multiple counts of rape of a child, indecency, and indecent assault when he appeared in the dock for sentencing. His victim has life-long legal anonymity.

With a discount for his guilty plea Wilson was given a 16 year extended sentence as an "offender of particular concern" comprising 15 years in prison followed by a one-year extended licence period. The defendant must serve two-thirds of the custodial element of the sentence before he can apply for release but it will be for the Parole Board to determine if he is safe to be released. Wilson will be on the sex offenders register for the rest of his life, and was made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order to control his access to children.

Speaking after the sentencing South Wales Police detective constable Rebecca Williams, the officer in the case, said: "Henry Wilson’s crimes are appalling, disturbing, and upsetting. It is clear he poses a real and significant risk to children. I know that no sentence can make up for the devastating damage he has caused and give this brave victim their childhood back, but I really do hope that they can now start to rebuild their life knowing they are safe from their abuser.

"I would like to publicly praise the victim who has demonstrated a huge amount of dignity and incredible strength supporting this investigation. They should be proud of their courage which means that Henry Wilson is now behind bars for a significant amount of time."