CLIFFORD PARKER FROM LLANWRTYD WELLS CONVICTED OF SEXUAL MESSAGE CRIMES IN MERTHYR

In a significant case that has drawn considerable attention, Clifford Parker, a resident of Llanwrtyd Wells, was found guilty of engaging in illegal and predatory online behavior involving a minor. The incident unfolded after Parker, aged 52, initiated contact with what he believed was a 14-year-old girl through a dating app, leading to a series of disturbing exchanges that ultimately resulted in his conviction.

According to court records, Parker sent explicit messages to a profile he thought belonged to a schoolgirl named Marie Jay. Unbeknownst to him, the profile was a fake created by paedophile hunters aiming to catch individuals attempting to engage in sexual activities with minors. The messages included lewd comments and images, with Parker even sharing a photograph of a woman he claimed was his ex-girlfriend performing a sexual act. The exchanges spanned from February 16 to July 3 of the previous year, during which Parker believed he was communicating with a minor.

During the trial at Merthyr Crown Court, the prosecution presented detailed evidence of Parker’s online activity. Nicola Powell, the prosecutor, highlighted that just days after the conversations began, the fake profile’s operator revealed that they were only 14 years old, to which Parker responded by continuing to send sexual content. This included explicit images and attempts to arrange meet-ups for sexual encounters, which underscored the seriousness of his intentions.

The court heard that Parker was aware the profile was not genuine but continued to engage with it, believing he was communicating with a minor. Despite this, he maintained throughout the proceedings that he knew the profile was controlled by an adult male and that he had not intended to harm a real child. The jury deliberated for nearly two hours before reaching a verdict of guilty on the charge of attempting to incite a child under 16 to engage in sexual activity.

In addition to the primary conviction, Parker pleaded guilty to possessing extreme pornography involving a dog, which was found on his phone. The court scheduled sentencing for both charges on January 9 of the following year, pending a pre-sentence report.

Following his conviction, Judge Richard Twomlow imposed an immediate sexual harm prevention order, reflecting the gravity of the offenses. The judge emphasized that Parker would face a custodial sentence at sentencing, although he was granted bail in the meantime. Parker is now subject to strict restrictions, including being limited to his registered home address, being placed on the sex offenders register, and being barred from certain occupations and the ownership or use of internet-enabled devices unless they can be monitored and inspected by authorities. The court also prohibited him from using encrypted communication platforms, private cloud storage, or providing false information, with the aim of preventing further offenses.

While Parker maintains that he has no interest in children, the court’s measures and upcoming sentencing underscore the serious nature of his actions and the ongoing efforts to protect minors from online predators in Llanwrtyd Wells and beyond.