Newport sex offender sent explicit images to ‘girl’, 14

A convicted sex offender who messaged who he believed was a 14-year-old girl and sent her explicit images of himself has been handed a suspended sentence.

Asher Griffiths, 26, of London Street in Newport, was already subject to a sexual harm prevention order imposed in November 2020 when he contacted the supposed teenager on Chat Avenue on September 19, 2024.

The five-year order had banned Griffiths from using software that prevents a device from recording its history and from using online profiles that weren’t in his own name.

Cardiff Crown Court heard that Griffiths – who told the ‘girl’ he was 15 – was in fact communicating with an undercover police officer posing as a 14-year-old.

Prosecutor Ben Jones told the court Griffiths asked the ‘girl’ about her bra size, whether she was a virgin, and about her sexual experience. He also asked her to send pictures of her breasts and feet. When the decoy declined, Griffiths sent pictures of his erect penis.

Police attended Griffiths’ home on February 5 last year and arrested him. His phone was seized and officers discovered Express VPN – a virtual private network which hid his IP address and concealed his internet history. Emails also revealed he had an Instagram account under a name other than his own – both clear breaches of his existing order.

Griffiths pleaded guilty to attempted sexual communication with a child and two breaches of a sexual harm prevention order.

The court heard he had one previous conviction for five offences, including possession of indecent and prohibited images of children and possession of extreme pornography.

Ieuan Bennett, in mitigation, said: “In August he suffered difficulties in his personal life. The defendant tells me that was a one-off, and after that he desists from doing that sort of thing.”

He added that police had conducted subsequent checks on Griffiths’ devices and found no further illegal material. Mr Bennett said Griffiths was “still a relatively young person” and that his partner “has stuck by him”.

Recorder Christian Jowett sentenced Griffiths to a total of 16 months’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, and ordered him to pay £1,000 in costs. He must complete 200 hours of unpaid work, 15 days of rehabilitation activity, and the Building Choices accredited programme.

Griffiths must register as a sex offender for 10 years, and a new five-year sexual harm prevention order was imposed.