Two 40-year-olds from Neath Port Talbot have been sent to prison over the sexual exploitation of a child in 2023, in a case South Wales Police say involved a woman arranging for the girl to meet a man she knew would abuse her.
Victoria Lewis, from Neath, was jailed for four years after a jury convicted her of three charges. Shaun Lewis, from Sandfields, admitted four offences and was handed a 12-year extended sentence, made up of seven years in custody followed by five years on extended licence.
What happened
The offending took place in mid-2023. Victoria Lewis arranged for an indecent photograph of the child to be taken, organised the girl’s travel so that she could be exploited, and deliberately set up an act that would amount to one of the child sex offences under sections 9 to 13 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003.
Shaun Lewis made repeated sexual requests and demands of the victim. Some were made directly to her, others were passed on through Victoria Lewis.
In court
Victoria Lewis denied all three charges in December 2024 – arranging the sexual exploitation of a child aged 13 to 17, arranging the commission of an offence of sexual activity with a child, and arranging the travel of another person with a view to exploitation. A jury found her guilty on every count following a trial in April this year.
Shaun Lewis pleaded guilty to two counts of arranging or facilitating the sexual exploitation of a child, one count of arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence, and one count of arranging or facilitating the travel of another person with a view to exploitation.
Sentencing
Victoria Lewis was sentenced to four years in prison.
Shaun Lewis received a 12-year extended sentence – seven years in custody plus a five-year extended licence period.
Both will be subject to notification requirements for the rest of their lives.
Police response
Detective Constable Amanda Jenkins said:
“This has been a particularly depraved case which has involved Victoria Lewis arranging for a child to meet with a man that she knew would sexually exploit her.
“What Victoria Lewis has done is sickening, and to think about what the child has gone through because of Victoria Lewis is horrifying.
“We cannot praise the victim enough for the bravery she has shown to tell police what happened to her and secure justice against a despicable woman – and that is before even mentioning Shaun Lewis’s part in the offending.”
