CAERNARFON MAN SENTENCED FOR SENDING LEWD MESSAGES TO UNDERAGE GIRL DESPITE RESTRICTIONS
A man described as a "high risk to children" sent lewd and concerning messages to a girl he knew was underage, a court has heard.Carl Williams' actions left the girl, who was under 16, "traumatised".
Summing up the case at Caernarfon Crown Court, Judge Timothy Petts said Williams had came to the attention of the authorities, for inciting a young girl to engage in a sexual activity, which led to restrictions being placed on his use of the Internet.
In June last year it was discovered he was using Snapchat, which was in breach of a social harm prevention order, phones were seized and he was released under investigation, but despite this he contacted a young girl on Snapchat.
She told him her age, which was under 16.
But he sent her lewd and concerning messages, which left her "traumatised", reports North Wales Live.
The court heard he had seven convictions for nine offences.
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Williams, 27, of Dinam Road, Caergeiliog, Holyhead, admitted breaching a risk of sexual harm order and failing to comply with notification requirements of sex offenders register.
Acting for Williams, Elen Owen, has said Williams had entered early guilty pleas, had a troubled background and suffered with mental health issues and suggested he could be better dealt with by a community sentence with support to address his problems.
But Judge Timothy Petts disagreed and said only an immediate custodial sentence would be appropriate, saying he had a "troubling and concerning record of offending." He had also carried on using Snapchat, despite being "caught out".
A pre-sentence report also found he was a "high risk to children" and there was a likelihood of "seriously harmful offending" and there was no "realistic chance of rehabilitation" outside of prison, the judge said.
Judge Petts sentenced him to a total of two years eight months, with up to half in custody and the rest on licence.
A sex offender notification requirement was reset to 10 years, with a 15 year restraining order from contacting the victim.
