CONNOR VOWLES FROM NEWTOWN SENTENCED FOR GROOMING AND SEXUAL OFFENSES INVOLVING TEENAGE GIRLS IN MOLD

In a case that has shocked the community of Newtown and the surrounding Mold area, Connor Vowles, a 21-year-old man, has been sentenced to 16 months in a young offenders’ institution after admitting to serious grooming and sexual misconduct involving two underage girls. The incidents took place during 2016, with Vowles at the age of 19, and the case was heard at Mold Crown Court.

According to court records, Vowles allowed a 13-year-old girl, who had been reported missing by her foster carer, to stay at his flat in Newtown. Prosecutor Andrew Green detailed that the girl bore a love bite on her neck, which suggested some level of physical intimacy, but she denied any sexual contact with Vowles. Despite her denial, police investigations uncovered a significant amount of communication between the two, including approximately 300 text messages exchanged via phone. These messages revealed that Vowles had obtained details of train schedules to facilitate her travel to Newtown, indicating premeditation and an attempt to maintain contact.

Vowles admitted to police that he first met the girl when she visited the area with her family. He acknowledged knowing her age but claimed he did not find it unusual that she was only 13. The court was told that the interactions between Vowles and the girl included kissing, cuddling, and undressing, but notably, they did not engage in sexual intercourse. Prosecutor Green explained that Vowles admitted to being sexually aroused and that the girl was also aroused during these encounters. The activities reportedly lasted for several hours, but no full sexual act took place.

Further disturbing evidence emerged when an iPad belonging to a second girl, aged 14, was seized. It was revealed that she had also stayed at Vowles’ flat, and her device contained 292 messages exchanged with him. Some of these messages explicitly discussed engaging in anal sex, raising serious concerns about the nature of their relationship and Vowles’ intentions.

Vowles pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including grooming a girl aged 13 between September and October 2016, and meeting a girl for sexual activity after prior communication. He also admitted to inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. His defense highlighted that his life had been chaotic at the time, characterized by substance abuse and a lack of stable housing. It was noted that he now resides with his mother and siblings, and that he had recently ended a relationship with a girl training to be a teacher, partly out of concern that his involvement might jeopardize her career. The court acknowledged these factors but emphasized the seriousness of his actions.

Judge Niclas Parry imposed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order on Vowles, underscoring the dangers posed by social media and online communication. The judge stated, “This case highlights the dangers of social media. You deliberately targeted these two girls knowing they were in care. You knew the difference in age.” The sentencing reflects the gravity of grooming and sexual offenses committed against vulnerable minors, and the community remains vigilant in the wake of this case.