MEDICAL STUDENT ASKED SOMEONE HE BELIEVED TO BE AGED 13 FOR SEX
A medical student engaged in sexual chats with someone he believed to be a 13-year-old boy, a court has heard.In reality Floyd Powell, who was studying to be a physician associate, was chatting with an undercover police officer running a decoy account.
The 36-year-old's barrister said his client's conviction would be "catastrophic" for his career and a "huge bar" to him being able to find work in a medical research facility or in the NHS.
Powell contacted a profile of what appeared to be a 13-year-old boy on the social platform Hornet in April 2023.
He then moved the conversation to Snapchat.
During the sexual conversations that followed, Powell said he was "looking for fun", discussed the boy's bum, asked for "sexy" pictures, and inquired about having sex.
When the "boy" said he was 13, Powell stated he was "cool" with his age.
Powell was arrested in October 2023, with police seizing two phones and a tablet.
In his interview, Powell accepted that the "Fraz" profile on Hornet was his but answered "no comment" when asked if he had sent messages to the decoy.
He claimed to have no sexual interest in children.
He pleaded guilty to attempted sexual communications with a child at Swansea Crown Court and has no previous convictions.
The court was informed of a delay in proceedings, which the prosecutor apologized for.
Judge Geraint Walters described it as a "usual sad tale" and noted the nearly three-year delay in bringing the case to court, which would be reflected in the sentence.
Powell was sentenced to an 18-month community order, must complete a rehabilitation course, and perform 150 hours of unpaid community work.
He will be registered as a sex offender for the next five years and is subject to a sexual harm prevention order for the same duration.
