JAKE ROBERTS FROM CILGERRAN SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL OFFENSES INVOLVING CHILDREN IN WALES

Jake Roberts, a 23-year-old resident of Cilgerran, has been handed down a significant prison sentence of four years after being found guilty of a series of serious sexual offenses involving minors. The conviction stems from a detailed investigation into Roberts' disturbing activities, which spanned several years and involved multiple victims.

According to court records, Roberts was convicted of sexually assaulting a nine-year-old boy. The abuse was uncovered after the child's mother discovered suspicious transactions on her son's device, including videos and other digital content that raised alarm. This discovery prompted a police investigation, which revealed the extent of Roberts' misconduct.

Further evidence presented in court showed that Roberts had engaged in online grooming of other children. He used various digital platforms to lure and manipulate young victims, often offering money and gifts in exchange for explicit images. This pattern of exploitation was not isolated but part of a broader, ongoing campaign over several years. Roberts admitted to police that he had sent a teenager £320 along with explicit videos and photographs, in exchange for similar images from the minor.

In addition to these crimes, the court heard that Roberts had groomed another child he met through the Xbox gaming platform. The grooming began when the victim was just 13 years old. The interactions involved conversations and exchanges that fostered a sense of indebtedness, further entrenching Roberts' manipulative tactics. His previous convictions related to similar offenses were also brought to light during the proceedings.

Roberts pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including sexual assault of a child, inciting sexual activity, causing a child to witness sexual acts, and engaging in sexual communication with minors. The seriousness of his actions was underscored by the judge, Paul Thomas KC, who described Roberts' conduct as a repeated pattern over a six-year period involving multiple minors. The judge emphasized that Roberts' actions were predatory and exploitative, involving requests for sexual images in exchange for money.

As part of his sentencing, Roberts was ordered to register as a sex offender for life and was subjected to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order. The court's decision reflects the gravity of his offenses and the need to protect the community from further harm, especially given the repeated nature of his misconduct and the vulnerability of his victims.