Description
A predatory paedophile who groomed teenage girls for sex has been jailed for six years.
Duncan Alistair Morgan, 24, pressured two girls into having sex and abused two others after becoming an “attraction” to them, Newport Crown Court heard.
Prosecutor Jeremy Jenkins said the complaints against Morgan dated back to February 2011.
A police investigation, launched in June last year, uncovered evidence that Morgan was using his age to groom underage girls, he said.
“It became apparent from information that had been obtained that the defendant was associating with much younger children,” said Mr Jenkins. “It proved to be an attraction for these girls. He appeared laidback and cool, to use some of the expressions.”
Mr Jenkins said the first girl was at home when she was followed to an upstairs bedroom by Morgan who kissed her and put his hand down her trousers.
“He told her to forget about what happened and no-one else needed to know about it,” he said.
Mr Jenkins said Morgan targeted another underage girl by sending her flattering messages over Facebook.
“They were complimentary and designed to gain her attraction and her confidence,” he said.
He said Morgan, after convincing the girl to have sex with him over a car bonnet, sent a flurry of text messages offering to apologise.
A third victim, he said, was targeted for sex in a toilet.
The last victim had been drinking alcohol, but awoke to find Morgan with his hand down her trousers, he said.
“He took full advantage of his age and relative experience and independence to groom and attract these young girls,” said Mr Jenkins.
Morgan was arrested but denied all but one of his crimes to police, he told the court.
“He maintained that the girls were not telling the truth and denied, in some cases, that he knew of their ages.”
The case came to trial, but on the second day, Morgan, of Bridge Street, Abercarn, entered guilty pleas to the remaining charges.
Hugh Wallace, defending, said Morgan’s pleas had prevented the victims from having to give evidence.
Mr Wallace said Morgan, who pleaded guilty to five counts of sexual activity with a child, had penned a letter to Judge Daniel Williams outlining his difficult upbringing and expressing remorse.
“That must have been a difficult letter for him to write but he wrote it and it shows the life he’s had thus far has not been a pleasant experience.”
Jailing Morgan for a total of six years and three months, Judge Williams told him: “Your behaviour is properly described by the author of the pre-sentence report as predatory.
“Young girls have been put under pressure by you to have unwanted sex with you. They can never regain that which they have lost.”
Speaking after the hearing, Gwent Police Detective Sergeant Sarah Goodchild said: “We are pleased to see Duncan Morgan sentenced for the crimes he committed today.
“He consistently and deliberately befriended children then went on to sexually assault them. The impact of his crimes will undoubtedly have a long-lasting effect on the victims in this case, but it was their bravery in having the courage to come forward and give evidence that saw him brought to justice today.”