David Taylor 43

Description

A "predatory paedophile" sent sexualised messages to who he thought were teenage girls and asked them if they could do "naked stuff".

He was described as having an "appalling" record for paedophilic offences, including indecent assaulting and inciting children into sexual activity.

David Taylor, 43, of Barry, was reported to the police by a "vigilante paedophile hunting group" after he had spoken to two decoys who he believed were 15 and 14-year-old girls respectively. As a result of this, he was in breach of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order which had been imposed by the courts.

A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday heard the first conversation was with a decoy named "Frankie" who told the defendant she was a 14-year-old.

Taylor did not use his real name, and used a social media tagline of "TheDude123".

During the conversation, the defendant attempted to groom "Frankie", asked her about sex and sent her links to pornographic websites.

He told "Frankie" he was there to "educate her", gave descriptions of masturbation, told the decoy he was masturbating, and asked her to open her legs and "rub" between them.

Prosecutor Alex Greenwood said Taylor told the decoy to touch her vagina, asked about her underwear and asked her to send pictures of her "rubbing herself".

The defendant began communication with the second decoy on April 27, who he believed to be a 15-year-old girl named "Lily",

The conversation was similar in nature to that of the first decoy, with Taylor asked "Lily" if she wanted to "get naked", asked her if she wanted to see him naked and made reference to masturbation

He made requests for images and asked "Lily" if she wanted to meet up with him, asking "Do you want to do naked stuff at mine?".

The defendant described being "sexually aroused" and said he was masturbating during their conversation..

Taylor, of Thompson Street, was arrested and later pleaded guilty to arranging/facilitating a child sexual offence, attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, attempting to cause/incite a child to engage in sexual activity, breaching sex offender notification requirements, and attempting to meet a girl under 16 by grooming.

Mr Greenwood said the defendant has a "significant and appalling record" of seven convictions. These include; indecently assaulting a female under 14 and gross indecency with a child under 16 in 2005, breaching a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) in 2007, further breaches of the SOPO in 2010, multiple offences of causing/inciting a child to engage in sexual activity in 2013, breaches of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) in 2018 and further breaches of the SHPO in 2024.

In mitigation, Peter Donnison said his client had been making efforts to earn qualifications while in prison, but he was finding it difficult to find employment when released because of his previous convictions.

It was also said the defendant suffered a head injury as a child and has been diagnosed with arrested hydrocephalus.

Sentencing, the Recorder of Cardiff, Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke said Taylor's sexual attraction to children was so strong he "struggled to pass them in the street".

The judge added: "You are a predatory paedophile who uses children on the internet to gratify your own powerful and long standing sexual urges."

Taylor was sentenced to seven years imprisonment, with an extended licence period of five years.

He was also made subject to sex offender notification requirements indefinitely.