Cardiff Sex Offender Jailed After Hiding Phone from Authorities

A 20-year-old convicted sex offender has been handed a prison sentence after failing to comply with court-ordered requirements following his release from custody earlier this year. 📱⚖️

Lewis Ware, of Broadway, Cardiff, was sentenced to 40 weeks imprisonment at Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday after pleading guilty to two counts of breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and sex offender notification requirements.

The court heard that Ware, who was previously convicted in 2023 for attempting to engage in sexual activity with a decoy posing as a 14-year-old girl, failed to attend a police station within three days of his February 17 release to register his address as required.

Prosecutor Abigail Jackson told the court that when Ware’s offender manager visited him on February 25, they discovered an undisclosed Samsung mobile phone in his possession. The defendant then failed to properly place his thumb on the scanner when asked to unlock the device.

“He didn’t comply with this and and failed to put his phone fully on the scanner,” Ms Jackson said.

A brief review of the phone revealed Ware had been using Instagram and Snapchat applications, which he was prohibited from accessing under his court order.

The court was informed that Ware also has previous convictions for assault by penetration, sexual assault and engaging in sexual communication with a child, as well as multiple breaches of court orders.

Defence barrister David Pinnell told the court in mitigation that his client had the reading age of a six-year-old and had been diagnosed with ADHD.

Judge Eugene Egan proceeded to sentence Ware to 40 weeks behind bars.