NEWPORT PAEDOPHILE ASKED ‘GIRL, 13’ FOR NAKED PICTURES
A 41-year-old man with pedophile tendencies contacted a girl he believed to be 13 years old, expressing his desire to be her online boyfriend and requesting nude photographs.The entire operation was part of a sting set up by a paedophile hunting group called Cobra, with no real child involved.
Prosecutor Peter Donnison explained to Cardiff Crown Court that Thomas engaged in sexually explicit online conversations with the decoy, which became increasingly explicit over time.
“The defendant told her he was 30 and repeatedly asked for pictures of her breasts and naked body,” Mr Donnison stated.
“He also suggested that he could be her online boyfriend and invited her to bathe with him.” Further, Mr Donnison revealed that Thomas sent a photo of his genitals and told her she was “drop dead sexy.” Police arrested Thomas after he was approached at his home by another paedophile hunter group called Dank Dragon.
He admitted to attempting to communicate sexually with a person under 16.
The misconduct took place between April 25 and May 4.
Thomas has a prior conviction from 2021 for soliciting sexual services as a prostitute on Ruperra Street, for which he received a £179 fine, along with additional costs and surcharges.
His legal representative noted that Thomas never intended to meet the decoy, expressed remorse, and had relocated from Newport out of fear of retaliation.
The court sentenced him to 12 months in prison, suspended for 18 months, and ordered him to complete 150 hours of unpaid community work, attend a 10-day rehabilitation program, and participate in 26 sessions of a certified behavioral programme.
He is also required to register as a sex offender and is subject to a 10-year sexual harm prevention order.
