JAMES WATKIN SENTENCED IN NEWPORT FOR GROOMING WARNING OFFENSE
In September 2017, James Watkin, of Abermule in Powys, was sentenced to prison after attempting to meet a supposed 14-year-old girl in Malpas, Newport.Watkin had engaged in online grooming, exchanging approximately 300 messages with a person he believed was a teenage girl.
The conversation took place on a chat room with a member of the paedophile hunter group Patronus, now known as Justice Hunters.
Prosecutor Jason Howells stated that Watkin contacted her at 3 pm, and she quickly confirmed she was 14.
The court heard that Watkin asked her personal questions such as whether she was home alone and if she was a virgin.
As the conversation progressed, it became more explicit; Watkin even sent a nude photo of himself.
Discussions included plans to meet when her mother was away and obtaining contraception from her GP.
Throughout their exchanges, references to her age appeared, including “do you mind me being 14?”, to which Watkin responded with “as long as you are happy, I am ok.” Ultimately, Watkin arranged to meet the girl in a car park in Malpas on July 23.
When he arrived, he was confronted by members of the paedophile hunter group.
He claimed he was meeting a 15-year-old for friendship and laughter, according to Mr Howells, but then admitted to the conversation, leading to police intervention.
Watkin pleaded guilty to attempting to meet a child for sexual purposes and trying to incite a child under 16 to engage in sexual activity.
During sentencing at Newport Crown Court, Judge Daniel Williams emphasized that Watkin initiated sexual conversations and had sent an explicit picture of himself.
The judge stated, “You believed she was 14-years-old.
You are 33-years-old and a man of good character.
However, penetrative sexual activity was intended.
Ultimately, no harm was done because she didn’t exist.” The judge sentenced Watkin to 12 months in prison for each charge, to be served concurrently, and imposed a 10-year sexual harm prevention order.
Jo Hunt of Patronus (now Justice Hunters) expressed disappointment with the sentence, noting that it would have been preferable for it to be longer, especially considering Watkin had traveled a significant distance to meet with the fictitious girl.
