LLANELLI MAN SENTENCED FOR ONLINE SEXUAL OFFENCES AGAINST MINOR
Thomas Hearn, aged 21, engaged in a concerning online conduct after being targeted by a paedophile hunter group.
The court was informed that Hearn initiated contact with a decoy Facebook profile pretending to be a 14-year-old girl.
He then engaged in sexual conversations, asking for and receiving photos of himself and requesting nudes, indicating a predatory behaviour.
Hearn sent explicit images of his penis and expressed interest in a romantic relationship, believing he was communicating with a minor.
Following these events, he was traced to an address in Pontrhydyfen and confronted by local paedophile hunters.
The police were subsequently involved, leading to his arrest.
Hearn previously pleaded guilty to attempted sexual communications with a child.
The judge at Swansea Crown Court indicated that Hearn was fortunate that the charge was limited to a lesser offence that carries a maximum of two years.
He was sentenced to a 12-month suspended prison term, must complete rehab and sex offender programmes, and will be registered as a sex offender for 10 years, also subject to a decade-long sexual harm prevention order.
Court Outcome
Conviction and Sentencing Details
Sentenced
Detected legal outcome
icated that Hearn was fortunate that the charge was limited to a lesser offence that carries a maximum of two years. He was sentenced to a 12-month suspended prison term, must complete rehab and sex offender programmes, and will be regis...
Prison sentence
10 years
He was sentenced to a 12-month suspended prison term, must complete rehab and sex offender programmes, and will be registered as a sex offender for 10 years, also subject to a decade-long sexual harm prevention order
Court order
10 years
He was sentenced to a 12-month suspended prison term, must complete rehab and sex offender programmes, and will be registered as a sex offender for 10 years, also subject to a decade-long sexual harm prevention order
