WELSHPOOL SEX OFFENDER DANIEL THOMAS JAILED FOR FAILURE TO REPORT TRIP WITH CHILD

In March 2023, a serious breach of the conditions imposed on a convicted sex offender from Welshpool has resulted in a significant jail sentence. Daniel Robert Henry Thomas, aged 34 and residing at Leighton View, was found guilty of failing to inform authorities about his travel plans involving a young child, which led to his imprisonment for a period of 12 months.

Thomas, a registered sex offender with a troubling history of inappropriate and disturbing conduct towards young girls, was involved in an incident where he stayed in the same hotel room as a toddler for two consecutive nights. Despite the legal obligations placed upon him, he did not notify the police or his probation officers about this trip, which included the child's mother. This omission was considered a serious breach of his legal responsibilities and the conditions of his previous sentences.

The case was heard at Mold Crown Court on Thursday, February 2, where Thomas pleaded guilty to charges of failing to comply with the requirements of the sex offender register. This failure was particularly egregious because it violated his existing six-month suspended sentence, which was meant to serve as a punitive measure and a safeguard to prevent further offending.

His Honour Judge Rhys Rowlands did not hold back in his assessment of Thomas, describing him as an “arrogant” individual and a “risk taker” who deliberately chose not to disclose his whereabouts when he knew a child would be present. The judge emphasized the gravity of the situation, noting that Thomas’s decision to stay at a location for at least 12 hours with a child in tow was a clear breach of the legal requirements designed to protect vulnerable individuals.

Prosecutor Sion ap Mihangel highlighted the deliberate nature of Thomas’s actions, stating, “It was a deliberate failure. He knew the requirements and he did nothing about it.” The court was told that Thomas was aware of his obligations, having been reminded multiple times during police interviews and by probation officers. Despite this, he chose not to make any contact or provide any updates, which the prosecution argued demonstrated a blatant disregard for the law.

During the proceedings, defence barrister Laura Knightly attempted to mitigate her client’s actions by asserting that Thomas had completed all the requirements of his previous sentence and had engaged positively with probation services. However, Judge Rowlands was unimpressed, referencing a disturbing incident where Thomas had sent a picture of an erect penis to a child, describing the leniency shown by Welshpool Magistrates’ Court as “remarkably lenient” and suggesting that such a sentence would not have been handed down in other courts.

Ms Knightly also claimed that Thomas had forgotten the specific terms of his obligations but was reminded by probation officers, which explained his awareness of the requirements during police interviews. The court was also informed that Thomas’s family members had attended the hearing in his support, a detail the judge found “all the more worrying,” given the context of his criminal history.

Thomas’s criminal record is extensive. He has been a registered sex offender since 2012, following a conviction for two counts of sexual activity with a child, which resulted in a 28-month prison sentence. His history also includes a 2019 fine from Welshpool Magistrates’ Court for failing to comply with a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO). The following year, he breached the order again and was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for two years. Despite these measures, Thomas was convicted again in 2020 for engaging in sexual communications with a child.

During sentencing, Judge Rowlands expressed deep concern over Thomas’s repeated non-compliance, stating, “The picture is depressing that you are simply not complying with court requirements.” The judge further remarked that the threshold for custody had undoubtedly been crossed and that there appeared to be little hope for rehabilitation in Thomas’s case. Consequently, he was sentenced to four months in prison for breaching his suspended sentence and an additional eight months for failing to register as a sex offender, reflecting the seriousness with which the court viewed his ongoing violations and the potential risk he posed to the community.