Description
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.