Tredegar man jailed for sending indecent image to decoy

A 45-year-old man from Tredegar has been jailed for 34 months after sending a picture of his penis to what he believed was a 13-year-old girl and asking her to perform sex acts.

Dafydd Palfrey was caught in a sting operation by a paedophile hunter group from Newcastle who were using a decoy called “Olivia from Brighton”. Local group Dank Dragon confronted the defendant at his home on Dukestown Road on Sunday, March 9, before police were called and Palfrey was arrested.

Newport Crown Court heard how Palfrey engaged in sexualised online chats with the decoy during March this year. Prosecutor Jac Brown told the court: “The defendant incited her to digitally penetrate her vagina. He lied to ‘Olivia’ about his age after he suggested he was 21 when he was in fact 45. The defendant sent her a picture of his penis.”

Palfrey pleaded guilty to attempting to cause/incite a girl aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity and attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child. The offending took place after he had taken a cocktail of drink and drugs.

Defending barrister Jeffrey Jones described his client as “well-educated with a strong work ethic” and said the crimes had received “extreme exposure” after the confrontation was posted on Facebook by Dank Dragon. Mr Jones added: “He feels shame and embarrassment. These offences were out of character. The defendant is very anxious and very emotional about his appearance before the court. There was a deterioration in his mental health and he was intoxicated at the time. He has been living with his parents for the last two years. No attempt was made to meet the decoy. His life has been turned upside down.”

Judge Carl Harrison told Palfrey: “You made comments about driving to see her and that you wanted to get into a bath with her. Your offences are aggravated by the fact that you were under the influence of drink and drugs at the time.”

Palfrey was sentenced to 34 months in prison and must register as a sex offender for life. He was also made subject to a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and must pay a £228 victim surcharge following his release from jail.