Rhondda Man Jailed for Attempting to Arrange Child Abuse

A 31-year-old man from Ferndale has been sentenced to prison after being convicted of serious child sex offences. ⚖️

Liam Lewis appeared at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court today where he received a sentence of three years and nine months after being convicted of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and attempting to arrange/facilitate the commission of child sex offence – rape/assault by penetration of a child under 13.

Lewis will also be subject to a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will have to register as a sex offender indefinitely.

Detective Constable Isaac Gott of Tarian, the regional organised crime unit for southern Wales, said: “Liam Lewis is a sexual predator who preyed on the vulnerability of someone he believed was a child for his own deviant interests.

“He was identified by Tarian as having arranged to meet who he believed to be a child under 13 to sexually abuse and rape. He had offered to supply the child with crack cocaine and incited them to engage in penetrative sexual activity. It was also established he had sent sexual videos during communication with the child.”

On October 21 last year, detectives executed a warrant at an address in Porth, Rhondda, where Lewis was arrested. He was charged while in custody and subsequently remanded.

DC Gott added: “If your child has an online presence, please make it your business to ensure appropriate security settings are activated, be aware of the applications they use and be alert that they may be talking to strangers.

“Tackling online child sexual exploitation is a national priority for UK law enforcement. Tarian will continue to work with partner agencies across the UK and internationally to safeguard children and bring offenders to justice. We will relentlessly pursue high harm offenders and ensure they have their day in Court.” 🚨

Anyone concerned about the online activity of their child should contact the police on 101 and report any suspicious behaviour and activity.