CHRISTOPHER STRONG FROM ABERDARE CAUGHT IN SEXUAL PREDATION SCHEME INVOLVING 12-YEAR-OLD DECOY IN MERTHYR TYDFIL

In a disturbing case that highlights ongoing concerns about online child exploitation, Christopher Strong, a 38-year-old resident of Aberdare, was found to have violated court-imposed restrictions by engaging in inappropriate and sexualized communication with an individual he believed to be a 12-year-old girl. The incident took place after Strong had already been convicted of attempting to communicate sexually with a minor and had been subjected to a strict Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which was intended to prevent any further such offenses.

Strong’s previous conviction, handed down in 2022, resulted in him receiving a suspended sentence of eight months in prison. Additionally, he was mandated to adhere to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for a decade and was required to comply with sex offender notification requirements. These measures were put in place to monitor and restrict his interactions, especially online, to safeguard potential victims.

The recent breach occurred during a court hearing at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on a Friday, where it was revealed that Strong had continued to communicate with a social media account he believed belonged to a young girl named Lily, aged 12. In reality, the account was operated by an undercover officer, a decoy designed to catch individuals attempting to exploit minors online. Despite knowing the account was not genuine, Strong’s messages quickly took a sexual turn.

During their exchanges, Strong made inappropriate comments, asking the decoy if her parents checked her phone, discussing intimate topics such as rubbing himself, and even asking if she wanted to watch him do so. He also requested photographs of the decoy, and shockingly, he claimed to be naked during their conversations. These actions clearly demonstrated his intent to engage in sexual activity with a minor, in direct violation of the court’s orders.

Following his arrest, Strong pleaded guilty to charges of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and breaching the Sexual Harm Prevention Order. The court heard that his behavior was a blatant disregard for the restrictions placed upon him, raising serious concerns about his ongoing predatory tendencies. Judge Simon Mill, presiding over the case, expressed his dismay at Strong’s actions, stating, “You are clearly a person with a sexual attraction to children. I find it absolutely staggering you'd go back to this sort of behaviour not long after completing the Horizon programme. You said you felt at a loss that it was not carrying on anymore. It just shows you were determined to offend.”

As a result, Strong was sentenced to an additional 19 months in prison. The judge also ordered him to adhere to sex offender notification requirements for a period of seven years, emphasizing the seriousness of his violations and the ongoing risk he poses to the community. This case underscores the importance of vigilant monitoring and enforcement of court orders designed to protect children from sexual exploitation, especially in the digital age where predators often seek to exploit online platforms.