Newport Crown Court (Image: PA Images / Alamy)
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A man who believed he was having sexualised conversations with three underage girls has been handed a suspended prison sentence after being caught by paedophile hunters.
The offences
Matthew Lewis, from Pontypool, was 22 years old when he began communicating with decoy profiles he believed were real children during the summer of 2021. One of the supposed girls had told him she was just 12 years old.
His offending took place between 21 July and 1 August 2021.
Court proceedings
The 27-year-old, of Gelli Rhwy Road, Garndiffaith, pleaded guilty during his trial at Newport Crown Court to three counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.
The court heard Lewis had no previous convictions and had experienced the “tragic” loss of his mother in 2022.
Heath Edwards, representing Lewis, said: “He has matured since the commission of these offences five years ago.”
Sentence
Recorder David Harris sentenced Lewis to 14 months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years. He was also ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work, attend an accredited programme, and carry out a 10-day rehabilitation activity requirement.
Lewis must register as a sex offender for 10 years and was made subject to a 10-year sexual harm prevention order. He was also ordered to pay a £156 victim surcharge.
