SEAN GOLDER AND SHOCKING SEXUAL PREDATION IN PEMBROKESHIRE AND CARMARTHEN
Police authorities have publicly released a mugshot of Sean Golder, a former army veteran, following his arrest in connection with a disturbing incident involving an attempt to engage in sexual acts with a minor.Golder, who previously served in the Royal Engineers, was apprehended in the parking lot of a Morrisons supermarket located in Carmarthen on March 10.
The arrest came after he arranged to meet what he believed was a 14-year-old boy, but who was actually an undercover police officer, in the supermarket’s car park.
The case has garnered significant attention as it highlights the dangers of online grooming and predatory behavior.
Golder was subsequently sentenced to a total of 19 months in prison after being found guilty of attempting to meet a child for sexual purposes, grooming, and engaging in attempted sexual communication with a minor.
The court proceedings revealed a disturbing pattern of behavior that began with online messaging and culminated in a planned physical meeting.
According to court reports from Swansea Crown Court, the investigation uncovered that Golder initiated contact with the undercover officer on social media on March 8.
During their initial exchanges, Golder claimed he was heading to Carmarthen and expressed a desire for “fun.” The profile he used indicated that the “boy” was 19 years old, but in their first message, the officer disclosed that he was only 14, prompting Golder to ask if that was too young.
Prosecutor Ieuan Rees detailed that Golder responded with, “Lol where are you?
Are you looking for fun?” and further suggested that they could have “fun in my van.” The communication quickly escalated as the two exchanged phone numbers and moved their conversation to WhatsApp.
Golder asked the “boy” for a photograph, and upon receiving one, he responded with surprise, saying, “Wow is that really you?
I need you to run here now.” The court noted that the image clearly depicted a young boy, no older than 14, and that Golder’s belief that the individual was an adult was described as “ludicrous” by Recorder Simon Mills.
Further disturbing details emerged during the trial, with Golder discussing physical contact in the back of his van and suggesting they could “get undressed” and conduct a video call.
He also proposed meeting the “boy” at his home, but the officer declined, citing safety concerns.
Instead, they agreed to meet in the Carmarthen Morrisons car park on March 10.
Prior to the meeting, Golder explicitly asked if the “boy” wanted him to perform sexual acts, including touching, oral sex, and fellatio.
When Golder arrived at the supermarket, he was promptly arrested by police officers.
During the investigation, it was revealed that Golder had also brought “poppers,” or alkyl nitrites, to the planned meeting, and he told the undercover officer that these drugs would “turn him into a s***.” Golder, aged 55, who has no prior criminal convictions, has lived in Pembroke Dock at The Pound and more recently in Cosheston.
His military career spanned 23 years, during which he served in various locations including Germany, Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
His defense lawyer, Helen Randall, emphasized that Golder had left school at 16 and dedicated a significant portion of his life to military service.
She highlighted that during his time in custody, Golder had taken steps to improve himself by completing English and maths qualifications and engaging in employment.
Ms.
Randall argued that her client had already faced substantial punishment through his time in detention and that he had paid a high price for his actions.
The police operation was carried out in collaboration with officers from Tarian Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU), demonstrating the seriousness with which authorities approached the case.
As part of his sentence, Golder is now required to register as a sex offender for the next ten years.
Additionally, he has been subject to a sexual harm prevention order for the same period, restricting his future conduct and interactions.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies in Pembrokeshire and Carmarthen to combat online grooming and protect minors from exploitation.
