BRIAN MILNER PORTHCAWL PAEDOPHILE CAUGHT IN UNDERAGE GIRL PLOT

In May 2019, a disturbing case unfolded involving Brian Milner, a 49-year-old man from Porthcawl, who was caught attempting to exploit what he believed were underage girls through online communications. Milner, who posed as a 25-year-old man, initiated contact with two girls on Facebook in February of that year. The girls, who were actually decoys, revealed early in their conversations that they were only 13 and 14 years old. Over the course of a month, Milner engaged in increasingly inappropriate and sexualized exchanges, during which he sent explicit photos of his genitals and discussed sexual acts, including masturbation, oral sex, and rape. His conversations grew more manipulative and disturbing as he expressed romantic feelings, calling the girls “beautiful” and “his princess,” but also making inappropriate comments about their bodies and claiming he was in love with them.

Concerned by Milner’s threatening behavior, which included statements about taking an overdose of pills, the paedophile hunters involved in the case contacted police to intervene. The authorities responded by visiting Milner’s home to check on his wellbeing, finding him to be unharmed. The hunters, operating as part of the Angels of Justice group, arranged a confrontation with Milner when he agreed to meet one of the girls near his residence in Porthcawl on March 23. However, upon arriving at the designated meeting point, Milner was met by members of the group who revealed that the girls he had been communicating with were decoys monitoring his online activity.

During the subsequent court hearing at Cardiff Crown Court, it was revealed that Milner initially showered the girls with compliments, calling them “beautiful” and “his princess,” but soon shifted to more explicit language, describing their bodies and professing love. Prosecutor Matthew Cobbe detailed how Milner attempted to manipulate the girls and even threatened to overdose, prompting one of the decoys to call the police. Officers visited Milner’s home, where he was found to be in good health. Evidence presented included a photo of Milner in his boxers and a request for a photo of one girl in her pyjamas, alongside discussions about masturbation, oral sex, and rape.

The situation escalated when Milner agreed to meet a girl who claimed she was staying in a caravan at Trecco Bay. They exchanged contact details, and Milner asked her to contact him upon her arrival. However, this was a trap. When Milner approached the girl, who had her hood pulled up, he quickly recognized she was not a young girl and attempted to walk away. He was immediately confronted by the paedophile hunters, who questioned him about his conversations and waited for police to arrive. Milner was then arrested.

In police interviews, Milner claimed he had traveled to Porthcawl intending to meet someone at the fair and insisted that someone else had sent the sexual messages from his account. He also stated that his intentions were not sexual but aimed at developing communication skills with children, as he hoped to meet a woman with children in the future. However, the court was unconvinced by his explanations. Milner later pleaded guilty to charges of attempting to meet a child under 16 for sexual grooming and attempting to engage in sexual communication with a minor.

Judge Jeremy Jenkins expressed serious concern over Milner’s justifications, dismissing his claims that he had no sexual motivation. The judge emphasized that sending explicit images and engaging in sexual conversations with minors clearly indicated a dangerous predatory intent. As a result, Milner was sentenced to an indeterminate term, comprising 24 months in prison followed by 12 months on license. Additionally, he was subjected to a sexual harm prevention order and ordered to register as a sex offender indefinitely.

Milner, of New Road, Porthcawl, now faces the consequences of his actions, which highlight the ongoing efforts of law enforcement and community groups to combat online exploitation and protect vulnerable minors from predators.