EUAN GIBBONS FROM MOSTYN CAUGHT IN ONLINE PREDATOR SCAM NEAR FLINTSHIRE

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Mostyn and the wider Flintshire area, Euan Gibbons, a 21-year-old resident of Maes Pennat in Mostyn, was found to have engaged in disturbing online activities targeting what he believed to be underage girls. The incident came to light after Gibbons made contact with individuals he thought were teenage girls, requesting explicit images and attempting to establish in-person meetings.

Gibbons initially contacted three individuals on various online chat platforms, under the false impression that they were girls aged 14. His communications revealed a disturbing pattern of behavior, as he also initiated a conversation with a girl claiming to be just 12 years old. However, it was later revealed that all these profiles were operated by adults who were part of an online paedophile hunting group, posing as minors to catch predators like Gibbons.

The situation escalated when members of this group attempted to confront Gibbons directly at his family home in Mostyn last June. According to the court proceedings, Gibbons’ parents intervened, preventing him from answering the door. The police were promptly called to the scene, and Gibbons was subsequently arrested. During a search of his residence, authorities seized a mobile phone and a laptop computer, which were later examined for evidence.

The forensic analysis of Gibbons’ devices uncovered logs of the chats from June of the previous year, confirming his attempts to solicit explicit images from the individuals he believed to be underage girls. The investigation also revealed the presence of indecent images and videos of children stored on his devices, further implicating him in serious criminal activity.

Gibbons faced multiple charges in connection with his actions. He pleaded guilty to four counts of attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity and three counts of making indecent photographs of children. His actions prompted a court hearing at Mold Crown Court, where Judge Niclas Parry delivered a sentence that, while suspended, reflected the severity of his conduct.

In his ruling, Judge Parry described Gibbons’ behavior as “determined and repeated,” highlighting that he had actively sought out teenage girls and solicited naked images from them. The judge noted that Gibbons had even inquired about their residential addresses and suggested that he would have attempted to meet them if given the opportunity. Fortunately, no children were physically harmed or met as a result of his actions.

As part of his sentence, Gibbons was ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid community work and attend 40 sessions of rehabilitation activities aimed at addressing his behavior. Additionally, he was issued a ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, restricting his activities and contact with minors. His details will also remain on the Sex Offenders Register for the same period, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his conduct in the community.