GARETH WELCH CAUGHT IN EBBW VALE BY PAEDOPHILE HUNTERS TRYING TO MEET 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL

In January 2020, a disturbing incident unfolded involving Gareth Welch, a 43-year-old man from Ebbw Vale, who was caught in a sting operation conducted by a paedophile hunter group. The incident highlights the dangers posed by individuals with predatory intentions targeting minors online.

Welch had initiated contact with a young girl through her Facebook profile, where he was immediately informed that she was only 12 years old. Despite this, he proceeded to ask her to be his girlfriend and inquired whether she would be interested in having sex with him. When she expressed her ignorance about what sex was, Welch offered to show her a film, indicating a disturbing level of predatory behavior.

He also attempted to lure her with offers of a McDonald's meal, describing it as a 'treat,' and asked her what Christmas presents she would like, all in a calculated effort to persuade her to meet him in person. His communications revealed a pattern of grooming, as he expressed a desire to meet the girl face-to-face.

On the day of the planned meeting, Welch arrived at Risca train station in Caerphilly, where members of the paedophile hunter group known as Our Team were waiting for him. They confronted him with evidence of his online conversations and recorded the encounter live on Facebook. The group’s intervention was swift, and police officers arrested Welch at the scene. He was subsequently remanded in custody.

During police interviews, Welch initially denied knowing the girl was 12 years old, claiming ignorance of her true age. However, live footage from the confrontation clearly showed him admitting to knowing her age, confirming his awareness of the child's vulnerability.

Welch’s criminal history includes a previous conviction from 2001 for sexual activity with a child under 16, which resulted in a community order. He also has recent convictions for battery in 2017 and harassment in 2018, indicating a troubling pattern of behavior.

At a sentencing hearing held via video link from prison at Newport Crown Court, Welch pleaded guilty to charges of attempting to engage in sexual communications with a child and attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming. The court heard that on November 16 of the previous year, Welch created a Facebook profile under the alias David Lee and sent a friend request to the decoy, which she accepted. He then began messaging her, and once he learned she was 12, he asked her to be his girlfriend and requested photographs.

Welch sent pictures of himself and asked if she wanted to meet, which they arranged for November 23. During the exchanges, he expressed intentions to teach her how to kiss and suggested she could come to his home, where they could eat, play on an Xbox, and eventually engage in sexual activity. He told her that sex was how a man and woman have a baby and even offered to show her a film about sex. He also suggested she could stay over at his house and cuddle to keep warm.

On the day of the meeting, Welch arrived at Risca train station, where he was met by members of Our Team. They confronted him with evidence of his online conversations and recorded the encounter live on Facebook. Welch was arrested at the scene and later indicated he would be pleading guilty.

Judge Daniel Williams sentenced Welch to 18 months in prison, emphasizing the seriousness of his actions. The judge stated, "You knew from the outset this was, what you thought to be, a 12-year-old girl with whom you were communicating and almost immediately asked her to meet you. You are manipulative and a danger to young girls. You have an entrenched sexual interest in young girls, and the offence is so serious only a sentence of immediate imprisonment can be justified."

In addition to his prison sentence, Welch was subjected to a sexual harm prevention order and ordered to register as a sex offender for the next ten years, reflecting the court’s concern over public safety and the protection of children from future harm.