PAUL ROWLANDS PREDATOR CAUGHT IN MOLD FOLLOWING SHOCKING TIGHTS INCIDENT

In March 2019, a disturbing case involving Paul Rowlands, a resident of Mold, drew significant public and legal attention due to his inappropriate and predatory behaviour targeting schoolgirls in the area.

Rowlands, who had an existing criminal record for similar offences, was found to have engaged in a series of troubling actions that included following young girls while wearing revealing and see-through women’s tights. His behaviour was first reported on February 21, when members of the public observed him loitering suspiciously along Wrexham Road and Glanrafon Road in Mold. Witnesses reported seeing him repeatedly watching or approaching school-aged girls, raising alarm among residents and prompting police intervention.

According to prosecutor Karl Scholtz, Rowlands had developed a disturbing pattern of behaviour, which included pulling up his tights tightly against his groin to better expose himself. On one occasion, he was seen cupping his groin with both hands, further indicating his inappropriate intentions. A female witness described how she saw him wearing tights that were stretched at the top, revealing his skin through the material. As he passed a girl, he was observed to open his coat and thrust his hips forward, an act that was quickly noticed and responded to by the witness, who shouted at him to alert others. Rowlands then hurriedly walked away, with his coat hanging just past his backside.

Another woman who witnessed his behaviour expressed concern that he was not wearing any underwear beneath the tights, which heightened fears about his potential actions. She approached the girls and advised them to inform their teacher, emphasizing the suspicious nature of his behaviour. One of the girls later told police that the leggings appeared to be semi-transparent at the top, tightly pulled and revealing skin underneath. The girls reported that Rowlands was following them, watching intently, and when they entered a cut-through path, he ran around to see them exit from the other end. A pupil also described seeing a large bulge in his groin area, further confirming the inappropriate nature of his conduct.

Paul Rowlands, aged 46 and residing on School Lane in Pontabodkin near Mold, was subsequently arrested and charged. He was found to have breached a sexual offences prevention order that had been imposed on him in 2008. That earlier order was a response to his previous convictions, which included a 30-month jail sentence for a sexual assault on a girl under 14 and four exposure offences. The restrictions from that order included a ban on being within 25 metres of schools, playgrounds, leisure centres, or other venues frequented by children.

At Mold Crown Court, Judge Merfyn Hughes sentenced Rowlands to 20 months in prison. The judge noted that Rowlands had not fully admitted the extent of his offending but acknowledged his awareness of his predatory tendencies. The judge also highlighted that the probation service had identified these tendencies, which the court agreed with. Rowlands’ history of offending and breach of court orders demonstrated a pattern of concerning behaviour.

During the hearing, Rowlands’ defense lawyer, Simon Mintz, emphasized his client’s immediate confession to police and his guilty plea at the earliest opportunity. Mintz described Rowlands as a lonely individual with low self-esteem, who had suffered emotional abuse as a child. He stressed that Rowlands was genuinely remorseful and recognized the need for further help to control his impulses. Rowlands, who worked in a food processing factory and lived alone, expressed willingness to attend courses that could assist him in managing his behaviour.

Earlier in February 2019, Rowlands was again reported for following schoolgirls while wearing provocative clothing, including see-through tights. Witnesses described him behaving strangely in Mold, with reports indicating he was seen walking close to children at around 8:30 am. Further reports detailed how he was observed following four girls aged 13 and 14, with one witness noting that he was not wearing underwear beneath his tights. Police reports confirmed that he was wearing blue ladies’ tights and was seen running past the girls with his hands in his pockets, with some witnesses noting a bulge in his groin area.

Rowlands, who was a registered sex offender, was subject to a sexual offences prevention order that prohibited him from seeking contact with children under 16 and from loitering within 25 metres of places where children gather. Despite these restrictions, his behaviour indicated a troubling pattern of breaching these orders. His previous convictions included a 2015 charge of being a public nuisance, and his recent actions prompted further legal action.

In October 2016, Rowlands again appeared in court after breaching a sexual harm prevention order issued by Caernarfon Crown Court in 2008. He pleaded guilty to causing a public nuisance through indecent exposure at a playground in Llangollen, where he had driven with the intent to upset children aged 11 and 12. He was found to have lifted his shorts to expose himself to the children, who approached him at the play area. His defense acknowledged the seriousness of the case, and he was scheduled for sentencing at Mold Crown Court on October 27, with a pre-sentence report ordered to be prepared.

Throughout these incidents, Paul Rowlands’ behaviour has been characterized by a pattern of inappropriate conduct, breaching court orders, and targeting young children in the Mold area. His actions have caused significant concern among residents, authorities, and the judicial system, leading to his current imprisonment and ongoing legal proceedings.