Llanelli Man Jailed for Sending Penis Pics to ‘Girl’, 13

A Llanelli man who sent explicit images and arranged to meet who he believed was a 13-year-old girl has been jailed for 14 months 📱⚖️

Frank Standring, 59, of Ilston, first contacted the “girl” on Facebook in May 2022, unaware the profile was operated by paedophile hunters group Dank Dragon.

During extensive online chats, Standring lied about living in Manchester but was honest about his age. When told the “girl” was 13, he continued messaging and asked inappropriate questions including whether she had a boyfriend and wore thongs.

Swansea Crown Court heard prosecution barrister Sian Cutter describe how Standring asked if the “girl” was “into older men” and told her not to tell anyone about their chats. He sent images of his erect penis and requested photos in return.

Standring told the “girl” he “loved” her and “did not care how old she was”. He asked her to perform a sex act and during a phone call on 16 July 2022, said: “I really want to meet up with you”, suggesting cinema trips.

Ironically, Standring called another man messaging the “girl” a “nonce” and “dirty paedo”, telling her to block him.

After revealing he worked at a Carmarthen church helping homeless people, Dank Dragon members confronted him there. Initially denying being a paedophile, Standring claimed he didn’t know “she” was 13.

Defence barrister Dan Griffiths said his client “accepts full responsibility for his offending” and is “under no illusions as to the seriousness of his offending”. He highlighted Standring’s tendency to “bury his head in the sand and not recognise that he has a problem”.

Judge Huw Rees told Standring: “The chat was a decoy but you were not to know that. You thought you were communicating with a 13-year-old. These are persistent attempts to communicate with a 13-year-old child. Your intention was unhealthy and sexual. You sent sexual images of your penis to her. These offences are particularly concerning because you continued in your persistence. You have the potential to cause serious harm towards pre-pubescent girls and this risk is heightened because of your lack of remorse.”

Standring pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and attempting to meet a child following grooming. He received 14 months imprisonment and a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.