Cardiff Crown Court (Image: Huw Evans Agency / Alamy Stock Photo)
Last Updated: 4 minutes ago
A paedophile has been sentenced after he was caught asking a decoy he believed was an underage schoolgirl to send him indecent images of herself.
Joel Evans, 23, of Harcourt Street, Ebbw Vale, was arrested following a sting operation targeting online predators.
The case
Evans’ offending took place between December 3 and December 6, 2024, Cardiff Crown Court heard.
Matthew Cobbe, prosecuting, outlined how Evans had been communicating with someone he thought was a child and attempted to get them to send indecent images.
The defendant admitted attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.
Sentencing
Hilary Roberts, defending, asked that his client be given the appropriate credit for his guilty plea.
Judge Vanessa Francis jailed Evans for six months but suspended the sentence for two years.
He must attend a 26-day accredited programme and complete a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement.
Evans was also ordered to register as a sex offender for seven years and pay a £154 victim surcharge.
