PAUL JOHN LEWIS GROOMING TEEN IN COVENTRY AND PEMBROKESHIRE

In a case that has drawn significant attention, Paul John Lewis, a 39-year-old former soldier with a military career spanning two decades, has admitted to engaging in the grooming of a teenage girl from Pembrokeshire through online communications. The proceedings took place at Swansea Crown Court, where Lewis appeared for a plea and case management hearing.

Lewis confessed to meeting the underage girl in July of the previous year, after a period during which he had been actively grooming her sexually via the internet. The court was informed that this meeting was part of a pattern of inappropriate behavior that had been ongoing, although Lewis denied committing a similar offence between July and August of 2008. Prosecutor Nicola Powell indicated that the pleas entered by Lewis were acceptable to the prosecution, and a full trial was deemed unnecessary. This decision was partly based on the fact that the teenage girl would have been required to give evidence in court, which could have been distressing and traumatic for her.

During the hearing, Powell stated that Lewis had accepted, as part of his plea, that if the opportunity had presented itself, he would have engaged in sexual contact with the girl. The judge, Thomas, described the case as involving a 'progressive offence,' emphasizing the seriousness of the grooming behavior. The court was also told that the judge would consider what might have happened had Lewis's plans not been thwarted, indicating the potential severity of the case.

It was revealed that Lewis, who had served in the military for 20 years, currently resides in Coventry. The court ordered that he be granted bail until a probation officer completes a comprehensive report into his background and personal circumstances. Additionally, Lewis was instructed to immediately register as a sex offender with the police, a standard procedure in cases involving sexual offences. His sentencing will be scheduled once the probation report is available, allowing the court to determine an appropriate penalty based on the full context of his background and the nature of his offences.