Ex-soldier jailed for exploiting teenage girl online

A former soldier who was kicked out of the army has been locked up after sexually exploiting a 16-year-old girl during a video call and offering her cash to strip.

Thomas Davies, 25, contacted the teenager on TikTok before moving their conversation to Snapchat in October 2023. Despite being told she was just 16, Davies requested a video call where he masturbated under a duvet whilst complimenting her.

Cardiff Crown Court heard Davies offered to pay the girl to remove her top. When she refused, he asked to see her feet and requested she spit. He then threw off the blanket and continued pleasuring himself in full view. The girl did remove her top during the call before Davies abruptly ended the conversation and blocked her on both platforms.

Worried he’d recorded the footage, she contacted police. Officers traced the accounts back to Davies at his Ashville home in Oakdale and arrested him on 13th October 2024.

A search of his phone uncovered four Category A child sex abuse images and one Category B indecent image. Kathryn Lane, prosecuting, told the court Davies’ social media showed he’d been messaging numerous young people offering payment for sexual acts. Police also discovered a price list he’d created detailing how much he’d pay for various sexual services.

Davies admitted paying for the sexual services of a girl and two offences of making indecent images of children. The court heard he had a previous conviction for blackmail from 2022, which resulted in him being discharged from the army. On that occasion, he’d promised a woman £400 for a sexual video of her and her partner, then refused to pay and threatened to share it with her loved ones unless she paid him. He received an eight-month suspended sentence.

Pamela Kaiga, defending, said: “Mr Davies doesn’t seek in any way to try and justify or excuse his behaviour.” She added Davies recognised he had a problem but lacked funds to access support. Ms Kaiga described him as “still a young man” who’d never received a custodial sentence.

Judge Lucy Crowther told Davies: “Arguably your behaviour has escalated in involving youngsters.”

Davies was jailed for 16 months and must register as a sex offender for 10 years. Applications for a sexual harm prevention order and restraining order will be considered on 30th January.