FLINT MAN DAVID WILLIAMS SENTENCED FOR REPEATED OFFENCES INVOLVING CHILDREN AND ONLINE SEXUAL HARM

In July 2020, a man from Flint, identified as David Williams, was sentenced to prison after a series of disturbing offences involving the exploitation and grooming of young girls. Williams, aged 21 and residing in Maes yr Odyn, Flint, had a documented history of sexual interest in minors, which he continued to act upon despite being under strict legal restrictions.

Williams admitted to messaging a 15-year-old girl and believed he was communicating with a 13-year-old girl, all while he was subject to a five-year sexual harm prevention order. This order was meant to restrict his contact with minors and prevent him from engaging in activities that could harm children. Despite these legal restrictions, Williams persisted in attempting to contact young girls through various online platforms.

Furthermore, Williams confessed to creating indecent images of children, adding to his previous convictions. In 2018, he was already under a 12-month community order for similar offences, which included making indecent images. His actions demonstrated a blatant disregard for the court’s orders and the safety of minors.

At Mold Crown Court, Judge Niclas Parry sentenced Williams to two years in prison for his offences. The judge emphasized the seriousness of Williams’ conduct, stating, “It’s clear you need to understand what the consequences of your choices are.”

Prosecutor Ryan Rothwell highlighted that, following his prior conviction, Williams was explicitly prohibited from using social media applications without permission and from communicating with children under 16. He was also ordered to notify authorities of any devices capable of internet access and to make these devices available for inspection upon request.

Despite these restrictions, in October of the previous year, police officers conducted an unannounced visit to Williams’ home and discovered that he had been using chat applications that allow anonymous communication, such as Snapchat. His internet search history revealed visits to an image hosting website called ‘E-chat,’ but when officers attempted to access his account, Williams claimed he had forgotten his password.

Further investigation of his phone uncovered evidence that Williams had been speaking to an underage girl in August of the previous year. During this communication, he suggested they sleep together, despite her informing him she was only 15. Additionally, police found that Williams had made 13 indecent images of children, categorized as Category C, mostly depicting girls aged between eight and 12.

Williams was arrested in December of the previous year and released under investigation. However, in April of this year, he obtained another phone and resumed contact with someone he believed to be a 13-year-old girl on ‘E-chat.’ This individual was actually an undercover police officer. During their conversations, Williams repeatedly encouraged her to send indecent images of herself and even sent her a photo of himself in bed, despite being told she was only 13.

In May, police returned to Williams’ residence following the undercover operation. He was confronted about his interactions with the decoy but denied possessing any devices. Later, his mother handed over a phone she admitted she had wiped clean after confiscating it, suspecting her son was involved in concerning activities.

Judge Parry condemned Williams’ conduct, describing it as “persistent and deliberate,” and pointed out that he showed no regard for the court’s protective orders. The judge stated, “You made it clear that your aim was to contact girls and to experience having sex with a child.”

He further remarked that Williams had admitted to engaging in similar sexual activities with other children since his initial arrest, indicating a pattern of behavior. The judge expressed concern that, without intervention, Williams was likely to reoffend.

As a result, Williams was placed under a new sexual harm prevention order lasting ten years. The order prohibits him from having any unsupervised contact with females under 16 unless with parental consent and social services’ approval. He is also required to retain all internet browsing history, surrender his devices for inspection upon request, and inform authorities of any other devices he owns. The court’s decision underscores the ongoing threat posed by individuals like Williams and the importance of strict legal measures to protect vulnerable minors from exploitation.