PONTYPOOL PREDATOR DAVID PHILLIPS SENTENCED FOR GROOMING TEENAGE GIRLS ON FACEBOOK

In June 2016, a disturbing case emerged from Pontypool involving a man who exploited social media to target vulnerable teenagers. David Phillips, aged 44 and residing on Prince Street in Pontypool, was brought before Newport Crown Court to face serious charges related to his online predatory behavior.

Phillips was convicted of attempting to facilitate sexual offenses against two teenage girls, both of whom he believed to be minors. The court heard that he had engaged in grooming activities through Facebook, where he initiated contact with what he thought were two young girls, but in reality, these profiles were fabricated by a member of the public posing as teenagers from Pontypool.

Prosecutor Jason Howells detailed the case, revealing that Phillips first made contact on April 6, 2015, with a fake profile named Laura. The conversation quickly escalated from flirtatious exchanges to discussions about meeting in person. During their online interactions, Phillips was told that Laura was 15 years old, to which he responded by suggesting they keep their relationship secret. The defendant also received a photograph from the fake profile depicting a young girl in her underwear.

Over the course of four days, Phillips traveled from Pontypool to London, expressing a desire to meet the girl at an address where he believed they could be alone. Although initially hesitant, Phillips became increasingly eager, asking whether the property was overlooked by neighbors, indicating a desire to avoid being seen. The conversations grew more explicit, with Phillips suggesting he would provide sexual education to the girl.

During police interviews, Phillips admitted to the fake girl that he was 43 years old, contradicting his earlier claim of being in his 30s. He was told that she was 14, not 15, as he had believed. Around the same time, Phillips also contacted another fake profile, this time claiming to be a 15-year-old girl named Sarah. The interactions with Sarah were described as more sexual and direct. Phillips even mentioned purchasing a condom as a gift for her, indicating his intent for sexual activity.

Judge Michael Fitton QC sentenced David Phillips to a total of 16 months in prison for both offenses. In his remarks, the judge described Phillips’s behavior as predatory, highlighting that his actions were driven by a desire for sexual gratification at the expense of vulnerable minors. The court also imposed a 10-year sexual harm prevention order, which bans Phillips from accessing social networking sites and requires him to register as a sex offender.

This case underscores the dangers of online grooming and the importance of vigilance in protecting young people from predators operating under false pretenses on social media platforms.