Rhyl man jailed for manipulating 14-year-old girl online

A Rhyl man who manipulated a teenage girl into sharing sexualised images and performing sex acts has been jailed for five years.

Morgan Lewis-Williams, now 20, admitted inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and making indecent images of a child in both category A – the most serious – and category C. He was sentenced at Caernarfon Crown Court on Tuesday.

The court heard that when the victim was just 12 or 13, her mother first became aware that a man was encouraging her daughter to send sexual messages and meet in places including Manchester. She reported this to police and confiscated her daughter’s phone, though eventually returned it.

Around 18 months later, the mother discovered her daughter – then aged 14 – was on a video call with someone at night. When she checked the phone, she recognised the name Morgan Lewis-Williams and immediately contacted police.

Officers found Lewis-Williams had exchanged messages with the girl in May 2024. On 13 May that year, messages referred to them playing a “risky game”, with him “goading her” and asking her to “dirty talk him”. The girl, who was 14, sent him three photos of herself fully clothed, before he later requested she send a video of herself in her underwear, which she did.

She then sent him an intimate photo and two videos of a sex act, with Lewis-Williams knowing she was 14 whilst he was 18.

Six days later on 19 May, Lewis-Williams expressed his fear he “could get done for noncing,” the court heard.

The victim bravely read a statement in court, telling the defendant he “took advantage” of her when she was 14. She explained she now rarely goes out because she’s scared Lewis-Williams is watching her.

“I don’t think you will ever understand how badly this has affected me,” she told him. “You broke me, Morgan. You broke me into pieces.”

In her own statement, the girl’s mother said her daughter is “a shell of her old self”, adding that the impact of his offending is long-lasting.

Sarah Yates, defending, said Lewis-Williams accepts his behaviour was wrong. She explained he has ADHD and traits of autism which “affects his decision making and inability to consider consequences”. She added that he has seen the error of his ways, has a mental health appointment, and has been offered a job as a grass cutter.

Judge His Honour Timothy Petts told the victim she had been “brave and strong” to come to court to read her statement, which not many people do, as she continues to put this ordeal behind her. He hoped the sentencing would mark the end of one chapter in her life but said there would be many more chapters ahead.

Lewis-Williams, of Weston Road, Rhyl, was sentenced to 45 months detention initially in a Young Offenders Institution for the main offence. He received nine and six months detention, to run concurrently, for making category A and category C images respectively – a total of five years.

He was made subject to the sex offender notification requirements for life, a restraining order for life, and a sexual harm prevention order for 20 years.

Detective Inspector Kris Williams said: “This was a deeply concerning case involving the sexual exploitation of a young person. Lewis-Williams deliberately used online messaging to manipulate and pressure a 14-year-old girl into sharing sexualised images, causing significant harm and distress. Thanks to the victim’s family acting quickly and reporting their concerns to us, we were able to intervene, secure evidence, and bring Lewis-Williams before the court. I want to commend the bravery of the victim and the support shown by her family throughout the investigation. We hope that today’s sentencing sends a clear message that exploiting children – online or otherwise – will not be tolerated, and that we will continue to pursue those responsible and bring them to justice.”