Shane Thomas (Image: Facebook)
Last Updated: 2 minutes ago
A 41-year-old man has been given a suspended prison sentence after he sent sexually explicit messages and photographs to someone he thought was a teenage girl.
Shane Thomas, of Mountbatten Close, Newport, pleaded guilty at Cardiff Crown Court to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child under the age of 16. There was no real child involved – the profile belonged to a decoy operated by paedophile hunter group Cobra.
The sting
Thomas was snared after initiating contact with the fake profile and engaging in sexualised conversations that grew increasingly graphic over a number of days between April 25 and May 4.
He was later confronted at his home by a separate paedophile hunter group called Dank Dragon, and police subsequently arrested him.
Online messages
Prosecutor Peter Donnison told the court that Thomas had lied about his age, claiming to be 30, and repeatedly demanded naked photographs from the person he believed to be a 13-year-old girl.
“He proposed that he could be her online boyfriend and that she bathe with him,” Mr Donnison said.
“He sent her a picture of his penis and told her that she was drop dead sexy.”
Previous offending
Mr Donnison told the court that Thomas already had a previous conviction for a sexual offence. In 2021, he was found guilty in his absence of soliciting another person for the purpose of obtaining their sexual services as a prostitute in a street or public place in Ruperra Street. He was ordered to pay £179 in a fine, costs and a surcharge.
Mitigation
Defence barrister Jac Brown said Thomas had never attempted to arrange a physical meeting with the decoy.
“The defendant has shown a great deal of insight and remorse into his offending,” Mr Brown said.
“He’s had to move out of Newport because of the fear of reprisals. The defendant has lost his job and admits he will struggle to find work – the stability in his life has vanished.”
Sentencing
Recorder Barry Clarke told Thomas: “You initiated and sustained the offending over a number of days.”
Thomas was handed a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months. He was also ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work, a 10-day rehabilitation activity requirement, and 26 sessions of an accredited programme.
He must register as a sex offender and was made the subject of a 10-year sexual harm prevention order.
