GARETH EMERY CAUGHT GROOMING UNDERAGE GIRL IN LLANTWIT FARDRE AND PONTYPRIDD

In August 2019, a disturbing case of online grooming and sexual predation came to light involving Gareth Emery, a 37-year-old man from Llantwit Fardre, near Pontypridd. The incident unfolded when the father of a 14-year-old girl discovered a series of inappropriate messages sent to his daughter via Facebook, revealing Emery’s disturbing attempts to groom her.

Gareth Emery had initiated contact with the young girl by sending her a friend request on Facebook, after which he engaged her in sexually inappropriate conversations. Despite being aware that his target was a minor, Emery repeatedly pressed her for explicit photographs and inquired about her preferences regarding kissing and other intimate acts. His messages also delved into her past experiences with boyfriends, with references to sexual acts, and even included offers to take her shopping for underwear, all of which underscored his predatory intent.

The revelation of Emery’s misconduct was triggered when the girl’s father came across his profile on her Facebook page. The father was horrified to see the messages Emery had sent, which clearly indicated grooming behavior. The case took a further sinister turn when police investigations uncovered that Emery was not only messaging his real victim but was also engaging with three other accounts, which he believed to be underage girls. These accounts were later identified as decoys operated by paedophile hunting groups, designed to catch predators like Emery.

During the police analysis of the teenager’s phone, authorities discovered a staggering 620 messages exchanged between Emery and his victim. The messages included explicit discussions about kissing, touching, and squeezing her backside. Emery also expressed a sexual interest in her wearing pyjamas, which he described as a turn-on. The victim had sent photos of herself, but these images were fully clothed or in pyjamas, indicating her reluctance or fear.

Gareth Emery was arrested at his residence in Llantwit Fardre on January 24. Further investigation revealed that he had engaged in sexualized conversations with three other accounts, two claiming to be 14-year-old girls and one posing as a 13-year-old girl. Emery asked these decoys to meet up, requested explicit pictures—including one in a school uniform—and made numerous sexual comments about their bodies and sexual acts.

At a sentencing hearing held at Cardiff Crown Court, Judge Eleri Rees described Emery’s conduct as persistent over a period of six months. She emphasized that Emery believed he was communicating with underage girls and noted the intervention of the victim’s father as a crucial factor in preventing further escalation. The judge also addressed Emery’s attempts to minimize his responsibility and accused him of victim-blaming.

In her sentencing remarks, Judge Rees sentenced Emery to 30 months in prison. Emery was also ordered to register as a sex offender and was placed under a sexual harm prevention order, reflecting the serious nature of his offending and the need for ongoing monitoring to protect potential future victims.