Carl Williams (Image: North Wales Police)
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A 27-year-old man from Anglesey has been sentenced to two years and eight months in prison after he breached a sexual harm prevention order and targeted a young girl on Snapchat.
Carl Williams, of Dinam Road, Caergeiliog, Holyhead, appeared at Caernarfon Crown Court where he admitted breaching a risk of sexual harm order and failing to comply with the notification requirements of the sex offenders register.
How restrictions were imposed
The court heard Williams had previously come to the attention of authorities for inciting a young girl to engage in sexual activity, which led to restrictions being placed on his use of the internet.
The Snapchat breach
In June last year, it was discovered that Williams had been using Snapchat in breach of a sexual harm prevention order. His phones were seized and he was released under investigation – but despite this, he went on to contact a young girl through the platform. She told him her age, which was under 16, yet he sent her lewd and concerning messages which left her “traumatised”.
The court heard Williams had seven convictions for nine offences.
Defence arguments
Acting for Williams, Elen Owen said he had entered early guilty pleas, had a troubled background and suffered with mental health issues. She suggested he could be better dealt with by a community sentence with support to address his problems.
Sentencing
Judge Timothy Petts disagreed, saying only an immediate custodial sentence would be appropriate. He described Williams as having a “troubling and concerning record of offending” and noted he had carried on using Snapchat despite being “caught out”.
A pre-sentence report found Williams was a “high risk to children” with a likelihood of “seriously harmful offending” and no “realistic chance of rehabilitation” outside of prison, the judge said.
Judge Petts sentenced him to a total of two years and eight months, with up to half to be served in custody and the remainder on licence. A sex offender notification requirement was reset to 10 years, and a 15-year restraining order was imposed preventing him from contacting the victim.
