Locations
Bryn Avenue, Kinmel Bay, Rhyl, LL18
Description
William Felton, 38, of Bryn Avenue in Kinmel Bay, appeared before Caernarfon Court for sentencing on Wednesday, October 11.
He had previously pleaded guilty to three counts of breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and three counts of failing to comply with notification requirements.
The SHPO in question had been made last year in relation to Felton's attempts to engage a child in sexual activity and was ordered to last until November 2030.
Laura Knightly, prosecuting, told the court that the breaches had all taken place between August 2 and 24 of this year.
They began when Felton was using aliases - 'Jamie' and 'OpenMindOpenPervert' - to take part in online chatrooms, as well as and a new email address - all of which the police should have been notified about.
It continued with the defendant talking to what he believed to be a seven-year-old girl on a site called 'Chat Avenue' and attempting to set up a 'play date' (i.e. engage in sexual activity) with her.
He had also been speaking to the 'mother' of the child, who was in fact an undercover police officer, the court was told.
Several explicit sexual messages were sent to the 'child'.
Police attended Felton's address in August and seized a mobile phone and a laptop.
However, he also admitted to having another similar laptop which he had not notified the police about and had been hidden out of view - and this was the third notification breach the court heard.
Anna Price, defending, said that Felton had - before committing these offences - sought counselling in an attempt to 'seek help'.
Judge Nicola Saffman said that Felton had been 'relentless' in breaching the orders against him.
The judge added: "You cannot help yourself in the sexual pursuit of young female children. You will do whatever it takes in order to gain access to children, female children, in order to abuse them sexually.
"It's clear that you're offending behaviour has escalated."
Judge Saffman described the breaches as 'very serious' and sentenced Felton to three years and four months in jail.
An order was also made for the forfeiture and destruction of the devices used by Felton.