AARON DAVIES SENTENCED IN SWANSEA FOR GROOMING AND SEXUAL OFFENCES
Youth group volunteer Aaron Davies, 19, from Swansea, engaged in a serious online grooming and sexual communication with what he believed was a 13-year-old girl.Davies initiated contact via Facebook, creating a profile with an age-appropriate photo, which remained inactive until February of this year when he sent a friend request.
This marked the beginning of nearly two months of messages, during which his communications turned increasingly sexual.
Prosecutor Claire Pickthall explained that Davies’ messages included intimate questions, encouragement to perform sex acts, and requests for photographs, including two of his genitals.
Davies also told the decoy girl to watch pornography to learn about sex, expressed love for her, and said he wanted to go to Disneyland Paris with her.
He spoke of kissing, touching her, and explaining how babies are made.
It was made clear in many of the decoy’s replies that the profile belonged to a 13-year-old girl.
In total, Davies sent over 200 messages.
Miss Pickthall described his behaviour as 'classic grooming behaviour.' The court heard that the pair had arranged to go to the cinema in Swansea on April 18.
At this point, Justice 4 Kids contacted local paedophile hunters, who provided the police with the information.
When Davies arrived at Swansea’s main bus station expecting to meet the girl, he was confronted by activists, who called the police and detained him outside.
During his police interview, Davies claimed he was experienced with children due to his work as a steward at Swansea’s Liberty Stadium and volunteering with a youth group.
He stated he intended to 'educate and guide' the girl about growing up.
Davies, of Heol Eifion Wyn, Llansamlet, had previously pleaded guilty to charges of attempting to meet a girl following sexual communication and attempting to incite a girl to engage in sexual activity.
He has no prior convictions.
Stephen Thomas, representing Davies, expressed his client’s remorse.
Accounting for a one-third reduction due to his guilty pleas, Judge Keith Thomas sentenced him to 12 months detention in a young offenders institution, with half to be served in custody before release on licence to serve the remainder in the community.
Furthermore, Davies was placed under a 10-year sexual harm prevention order controlling his contact with children and his internet access, and he was also designated as a registered sex offender for the same duration.
