ARFON GRIFFITHS FROM ABERGELE SENTENCED FOR SEX OFFENCES AND ONLINE PREDATION

A convicted sex offender from Abergele has been sentenced to serve three years in prison after engaging in a series of illegal communications with minors and breaching court orders designed to protect children.

Arfon Griffiths, aged 44, residing at Ger y Mor in Abergele, was brought before Caernarfon Crown Court where he received the custodial sentence on March 15. The court heard that Griffiths had previously admitted to multiple violations of a sexual harm prevention order, failed to comply with sex offender register notification requirements on two separate occasions, and attempted to initiate sexual communication with a minor.

Prosecutor David Mainstone outlined to the court that Griffiths first became a registered sex offender in 2013 after being convicted of inciting children to engage in sexual activities. As a result of this conviction, he was subject to a sexual harm prevention order aimed at restricting his contact with minors and preventing further offenses.

However, on February 17, 2023, Griffiths violated this order by using the alias “Liam Williams” to send messages to a girl via social media platforms. This act constituted a clear breach of the court-imposed restrictions. The police responded to reports and attended Griffiths’ residence on March 9, 2023, where they seized a mobile phone hidden beneath a mattress.

Analysis of the device revealed that Griffiths had been communicating with four different girls online, claiming to be 17 years old. While three of these interactions were brief, non-sexual, and received limited responses, Griffiths did compliment the girls on their appearance. The most concerning communication involved a girl described as “extremely vulnerable,” with whom Griffiths engaged in explicit exchanges. He complimented her on her cleavage, told her she would be “amazing in bed,” and asked her to send a “sexy picture.”

Throughout these interactions, Griffiths used multiple aliases, including “Lee Jones,” without disclosing these identities to the police. This deception added to the severity of his breaches and violations of court orders.

One of Griffiths’ victims expressed her distress, stating that his actions have left her feeling “unsafe” and “anxious.” She revealed that she now second-guesses going out with friends and experiences nightmares about the incident. She shared her feelings of betrayal, saying, “I used to enjoy going out with my friends when we were off school. However, now, I second-guess whether to go. I never thought it could happen to me.”

During the hearing, Griffiths’ defense lawyer, Elen Owen, highlighted that her client had made “full and frank admissions” regarding his offending behavior. She emphasized that Griffiths, who has a prior conviction, has expressed remorse and acknowledged that he has “let himself down.” Ms. Owen noted that Griffiths has not attempted to justify his actions and is aware of the harm caused.

Judge Nicola Saffman criticized the decision to grant Griffiths bail initially, rather than remanding him in custody, which she described as a mistake. She stated that Griffiths “should never, ever have been bailed,” and attributed part of the harm to the error made by those responsible for his detention. The judge also issued an indefinite restraining order to prevent Griffiths from contacting the victims and ordered all electronic devices seized from him to be forfeited and destroyed to prevent further misuse.

In addition to the prison sentence, the court’s ruling underscores the importance of strict enforcement of court orders and the ongoing risks posed by individuals like Griffiths, who continue to breach protections designed to safeguard children from exploitation and harm.