Thomas Serpell (Image: South Wales Police)
Last Updated: 1 hour ago
A 28-year-old man who sent disturbing sexual messages to a child has been sentenced to 12 months in prison after a hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Friday.
Thomas Serpell, of Regent Street, Aberaman, Aberdare, pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual communication with a child after targeting a nine-year-old boy with a series of text messages described as “sexual and disturbed”.
The messages
Serpell asked the boy to “be his boyfriend”, asked him to kiss him, and asked whether he could see the child naked. The court heard the boy was left “confused and uncomfortable” by the contact.
After sending the messages, Serpell instructed the boy to delete them and not to tell his mother – which the child did. He later dismissed what he had written as a “joke”. When police became involved, Serpell denied any messages between him and the victim had ever been sent.
Impact on the victim
A victim personal statement read to the court by prosecutor Laurence Jones revealed the boy has been left scared to go out alone and has struggled to eat and sleep. He has become increasingly isolated, with only a small circle of friends, and said at times he “feels he doesn’t want to be here anymore”. There have been concerns about the boy self-harming.
Defence arguments
Nick Gedge, representing Serpell, told the court his client was of previous good character and has epilepsy, claiming the offence took place shortly after the defendant had suffered a seizure.
Mr Gedge said: “He knows what he did was wrong and expresses remorse and regret about what happened.”
He added that his client had been bullied in school and by his father because of his sexuality.
Sentencing
Judge Paul Hobson rejected the epilepsy claim outright, telling Serpell: “You claim you sent these messages after coming out of an epileptic seizure. I do not accept your illness had an impact on your behaviour or your recollection of what you did…
“Epilepsy does not cause people to sexually offend againt children, you have sought to minimise your behaviour.”
The judge added: “You only have to think how frightening and disturbing this episode must have been for that child.
“The impact on him has been significant.”
Serpell was jailed for 12 months. He was also made subject to a restraining order, a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, and sex offender notification requirements, each to run for 10 years.
