Newport Teen Sentenced for Pestering Girl for Sexual Photos

An 18-year-old Newport man has been sentenced after “pestering” an underage schoolgirl to send him sexual photographs of herself.

Dominic Gliddon Paton started sending the girl inappropriate messages which became “more and more explicit over time”, Cardiff Crown Court heard.

Ruth Smith, prosecuting, said the girl had sent the defendant sexual photos of herself after he’d “hounded her to”. He had also “encouraged her to masturbate”, the court was told.

Paton admitted engaging in sexual communication with a child, causing/inciting a girl aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity, engaging in sexual activity with a girl aged 13 to 15, and possessing an indecent photograph of a child. The offences were committed in March.

In mitigation, defence solicitor Alice Sykes said Paton had already served the equivalent of a 10-month custodial sentence after being held at a young offender institution since his arrest. He was described as an “immature” teenager.

Judge Paul Hobson told Paton: “When you engaged in this sexual behaviour, you knew full well her age. There was sexual messaging between you that you instigated and it became more and more explicit. You encouraged her to masturbate and you pestered her for sexual photographs.”

He added: “You have been in custody for a number of months and you have seen the consequences of your actions. This is a chance for you on whether or not you go back to custody or choose a different path with the probation service. I’m assuming that after being in custody, you don’t want to go back. This community order is very much a last chance in your case.”

Paton, formerly of Fleming Close, Newport, was sentenced to a two-year community order. He must perform 150 hours of unpaid work and complete a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement.

The defendant will have to register as a sex offender for the next five years and was made the subject of a 10-year restraining order not to contact his victim. Paton must also pay a victim surcharge.