Paedophile jailed for posing as teen online

A paedophile from west Wales who was already subject to a sexual harm prevention order set up different online accounts pretending to be a 15-year-old and asked children to send him pictures of themselves, a court heard. 📱⚖️

Terry Hughes, 41, was already a registered sex offender due to previous offending. However, police were made aware of concerns about online activity connected to an IP address that was traced to him. When they turned up at his home in Pembrokeshire he initially told officers that he did not have any devices but then gave them a mobile phone that was beside his bed.

Upon searching the device it became clear that between last September and June this year Hughes had set up a Snapchat account and was pretending to be 15 years old.

Prosecution barrister Alycia Carpanini told Swansea Crown Court that Hughes was engaging with people he believed to be under 18 and asking them for naked pictures. He also sent pictures of himself. One image sent is believed to have been of himself masturbating.

There was also communication with someone who Hughes believed was 10 years old, as well as an adult male who had a four-year-old son and discussion about a young child wearing a nappy.

Hughes, of Meadow Way, Waterston, Milford Haven, also sent others full naked pictures of himself.

Having pleaded guilty to two counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, attempting to cause a child to view an image of a sexual act, making an indecent image, and breaching a sexual harm prevention order, Hughes appeared to be sentenced on Wednesday, July 30.

Miss Carpanini told the court that Hughes had two previous convictions, both related to sexual offences involving children.

Defence barrister David Singh said his client “deeply regrets his behaviour” and that there is a “recognition that he does have a real problem”.

Judge Geraint Walters told Hughes that he “relentlessly pursued an interest in engaging with this behaviour” and handed him a prison sentence of two years. Hughes was also told he will be the subject of a new SHPO which will be in place for a period of 10 years.