BLACKWOOD PAEDOPHILE MICHAEL HARLEY SENTENCED AFTER SENDING 2000 INAPPROPRIATE MESSAGES TO UNDERAGE GIRLS

In a case that has shocked the community of Blackwood, Michael Harley, a 25-year-old man with a troubling history, was found guilty of breaching a court-ordered restriction by engaging in a series of inappropriate communications with underage girls. Despite being previously convicted and sentenced, Harley continued to violate the terms of his court order, raising serious concerns about his conduct and the effectiveness of the legal measures in place.

Harley, who resides on Cefn Fforest Avenue in Blackwood, had been subjected to a three-year community order after admitting to engaging in sexual activity with a girl under the age of 16. This sentence was handed down by Cardiff Crown Court in 2012, and it included a sexual offences prevention order designed to prevent him from contacting children under 16. The court's intention was to protect vulnerable minors from potential harm, but Harley's actions demonstrated a blatant disregard for these legal restrictions.

According to court reports, Harley engaged in a disturbing pattern of communication, sending approximately 2,000 messages to young girls. The messages included overtly sexual content, and he repeatedly lied about his age, claiming to be just 17 when he was actually 25. One of the messages was described as explicitly sexual, which further underscored the malicious intent behind his actions. The court heard that Harley's behavior was particularly wicked because he deliberately misled the girls, knowing full well that he was breaching the court order that prohibited such contact.

Judge David Wynn Morgan addressed Harley directly during the sentencing hearing, emphasizing the gravity of his misconduct. He pointed out that Harley's deception was calculated and malicious, as he lied about his age to gain the trust of the girls. The judge stated, “The suggestion has been made that they responded to your texts and the answer to that is ‘Of course they would’ because you lied to them. You didn’t tell them you were 25. You told one you were 17 and the other you were 18. That was a wicked thing to do and they believed you. I believe you knew you were breaking this order that I made.”

Despite the serious breaches, Harley was sentenced to a 12-month jail term, which was suspended for two years. The court noted that there was no evidence of face-to-face contact with the girls, and Harley's mental age was assessed to be around 13, which contributed to his behavior. The judge also highlighted that Harley had pleaded guilty to charges of sexual activity with a girl under 16 and inciting a girl under 16 to engage in sexual activity.

Harley's breaches came to light after he was arrested on February 28, 2013. He subsequently spent two weeks in custody before entering guilty pleas to multiple counts of breaching the sexual offences prevention order—four counts related to one girl and another four counts concerning a different girl. His defense lawyer, Jeffrey Jones, argued that Harley's actions were influenced by learning and emotional difficulties, including an IQ estimated to be around 13. Jones emphasized that Harley's breaches stemmed from immaturity and shyness, and importantly, there was no evidence of any face-to-face contact with the minors.

In light of these facts, Judge Wynn Morgan decided to uphold the original community order, emphasizing the importance of ongoing supervision and rehabilitation. Harley was also ordered to pay a surcharge of £100 as part of his sentence. The case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing risks posed by individuals who violate court orders designed to protect children, and it underscores the need for vigilance and strict enforcement of such measures in the community of Blackwood.