PETER HICKS FROM BARRY CAUGHT IN PAEDOPHILE HUNTING SCHEME IN CARDIFF
In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Barry, South Wales, Peter Hicks, aged 75, was brought to justice after engaging in a series of heinous online communications with what he believed were underage girls.Hicks, who resides on Owens Close in Barry, thought he was interacting with minors on social media, but in reality, he was communicating with members of a paedophile hunting group operating under the guise of young girls.
It all began on April 21, 2022, when Hicks sent a friend request on Facebook to what he believed was a 13-year-old girl living in Devon with her mother.
Unbeknownst to him, the account was managed by an adult male member of a paedophile hunter organization.
Under the alias 'Rob Page,' Hicks initiated contact, claiming to be a 55-year-old single man named Rob.
He shared a photograph of himself, showing his face and shoulders, and quickly began to flirt with the decoy, complimenting her on her appearance and suggesting that their conversations should remain secret.
Prosecutor James Evans detailed to Cardiff Crown Court that Hicks's messages soon turned increasingly sexual.
He discussed kissing, touching, and explicit acts, including sending a photo of his genitals and expressing a desire to be with the girl.
Hicks also asked her to send a private photo of her genital area, instructing her on how to take the picture and then to delete it afterward.
The conversation escalated further when Hicks requested to move the chat to WhatsApp, an encrypted messaging platform, to continue their illicit exchanges.
Just days later, on May 2, Hicks reached out to a second decoy, again posing as a 13-year-old girl.
He described her as 'damn sexy' and suggested they could meet in Wales, expressing a desire to touch her breasts and explicitly mentioning sexual acts.
He also commented on her wearing white panties and expressed a wish for her to 'touch his c**k.' When Hicks realized that the decoy was actually 13 and not 14, he abruptly ended the conversation, seemingly recognizing the age discrepancy.
On the same day, Hicks engaged with a third decoy, this time posing as a 14-year-old girl.
Their conversation involved questions about her relationship status, her parents checking her phone, and whether she had ever 'sexted.' When she hesitated, Hicks implied she would need to 'grow up' before continuing his predatory remarks.
Following his interactions, Hicks was tracked down by the paedophile hunting group, which reported his activities to the police.
He was arrested on May 8, and his mobile phone was seized for evidence.
During police interviews, Hicks expressed remorse, claiming his messages were 'all fantasy' and that he had no intention of meeting any of the girls.
He admitted to fantasizing about girls around the age of 13 for the past six years.
Hicks appeared before Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday, May 4, where he pleaded guilty to charges of attempting to entice a child under 16 for sexual activity and attempting to engage in sexual communication with a minor.
Judge Tracey Lloyd Clarke sentenced him to two years and eight months in prison, giving him one-third credit for his early guilty plea.
Additionally, Hicks was ordered to register as a sex offender for life and was subjected to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 15 years, reflecting the seriousness of his offending and the ongoing risk he poses to the community.
