PAUL DAVIES OF BELLSHILL: SCANDAL IN LANARKSHIRE OVER CHILD GROOMING INCIDENT

In January 2010, authorities and child protection experts expressed grave concern over the actions of Paul Davies, a young man from Bellshill, Lanarkshire, who was involved in a disturbing case of online grooming and attempted sexual exploitation of a minor. Despite his age and the serious nature of his offences, Davies managed to avoid imprisonment, but his case has raised alarms about the potential for future harm.

According to confidential documents obtained by investigators, Paul Davies, then 19 years old, had engaged in manipulative and predatory behavior towards a 12-year-old girl. The girl, who was from Wales, was lured into traveling from her home to Scotland after meeting Davies on the social media platform Bebo. The grooming process involved persistent communication through emails and phone calls, during which Davies attempted to establish a relationship that crossed appropriate boundaries.

The social enquiry report prepared for the court highlighted that Davies showed little remorse for his actions. It detailed his troubled upbringing and noted that he had only accepted partial responsibility for his conduct. The report emphasized that Davies remained at high risk of re-offending, citing his inability or unwillingness to fully comprehend the gravity of his behavior. It stated: "Mr Davies' actions and behaviour are highly concerning and the writer believes that he would be likely to commit such further offences. While he admits his guilt concerning the matters before the court, he accepted only in part responsibility for his actions, placing responsibility with his victim, as he stated she initiated the communication and many of the requests which he acquiesced to. He seemed unable or unwilling to explain why he had not stopped the process by saying no to the so-called requests from his victim. Mr Davies was able to acknowledge that his actions were stupid but did seem completely unable to grasp the seriousness of his situation."

Child protection advocate Claude Knights, director of Kidscape, expressed deep concern over Davies' case, stating: "He remains a dangerous individual. It’s very concerning that the document highlights a high risk of re-offending and lack of understanding on Mr Davies’ part on the worrying aspects of his behaviour. How can we have remorse or change or recompense if there is very little understanding or likelihood of change? This leaves him as a potentially dangerous individual. He does seem to pose a danger to children."

The leaked documents also revealed that during their online exchanges, the girl began to express feelings of love towards Davies. The report noted: "He did not appear to realize the inappropriateness of such exchanges, stating that they 'were only talking as friends'. It went on: 'He did not see the boundaries that should have been there between himself as an adult and his victim as a child.'" It further suggested that Davies either believed or was trying to convince others that he had no intention of engaging in sexual activity, though evidence indicated he likely intended to meet her for some form of sexual gratification.

The criminal case against Davies involved months of online and telephone communication with the girl. The situation escalated when they began discussing sex, and Davies sent her a nude photograph of himself. He then devised a plan to meet her in Bellshill, his hometown in Lanarkshire. The girl falsely told her parents she was going on a camping trip to Scotland, and Davies, posing as a friend's father, contacted her mother to confirm the trip. However, the scheme was thwarted when a teacher overheard a conversation between the girl and a friend, raising the alarm.

At Hamilton Sheriff Court, Davies admitted to a charge of intending to engage in unlawful sexual activity with a minor. Despite the seriousness of the offence, Sheriff Thomas Millar decided against sending him to jail, citing Davies' naivety and immaturity as mitigating factors. The court ordered Davies to refrain from using the internet unsupervised, emphasizing the ongoing risk he posed to children and the importance of monitoring his online activity to prevent further harm.