Newport man given community order over sexual images sting

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Newport Magistrates' Court (Image: Shibin Shaji)

Last Updated: 2 minutes ago

A 50-year-old Newport man caught sending explicit material to someone he believed was a child has been handed a community order.

Neil Faulkner, of Clayton Street, Newport, was snared through an online sting operation after engaging in conversations with a person he thought was a schoolgirl under the age of 16.

The evidence

Newport Magistrates’ Court was told that Faulkner had sent images depicting his genitalia along with a video showing movement beneath his underwear to the supposed child.

He pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child on June 27 last year.

Sentence

Faulkner was given an 18-month community order and must complete 100 hours of unpaid work alongside a 25-day rehabilitation activity requirement.

He will be required to register as a sex offender for five years, and a three-year sexual harm prevention order was imposed.

The court also ordered him to pay a £114 victim surcharge and £85 in costs.