JAMIE BANWELL CAUGHT IN LLANHARAN TRYING TO CONTACT UNDERAGE GIRLS FROM FIVE GROUPS

In July 2020, a disturbing case emerged involving Jamie Banwell, a man from Llanharan, who was caught attempting to engage in inappropriate and illegal communications with underage girls through social media platforms. The incident was uncovered after five separate paedophile hunter groups collaborated to monitor his online activity, revealing a pattern of predatory behavior that spanned several months.

Banwell believed he was communicating with five different teenage girls on Facebook Messenger, but in reality, he was conversing with adult decoys posing as minors on behalf of groups including Guardian Angels, TFN UK, Catching Online Predators, Angels For Innocence, and others. These groups are dedicated to exposing individuals attempting to exploit children online, and their undercover operations often involve decoys who simulate the age and behavior of minors to catch potential offenders.

During the investigation, it was revealed that Banwell repeatedly sent explicit messages and photographs to what he thought were underage girls. One of the decoys, posing as a 13-year-old girl, received a message from him that read: “So you’ve never seen a c*** before? Lol.” Prosecutor Nigel Fryer explained that this decoy made her age very clear, yet Banwell continued his inappropriate exchanges. He also sent a message stating: “I’m watching porn love. Lol.”

Another decoy, from Catching Online Predators, also portrayed a 13-year-old girl. Banwell asked her for a photograph and commented on her appearance, saying: “Your tits are popping out of your top love,” and later added, “Wow, you’re really sexy.” These messages clearly indicated his intent to pursue sexual conversations with someone he believed was a minor.

From TFN UK, a third decoy, Banwell engaged in casual conversation about school, television, and relationships. However, he also asked her, “So you’ve never seen a c*** before? Lol,” and sent a graphic image of his genitals. He further inquired about her body, asking, “How big are your tits love?”

Another disturbing interaction involved a decoy from Angels For Innocence, who accepted a friend request from Banwell in April 2018 and disclosed she was only 12 years old. Banwell offered to send her a picture of his genitals and warned her, “Don’t let your mum see it.” He persisted in asking her for a picture of her breasts, continuing to pester her even on the day he was arrested.

The fifth decoy, from Guardian Angels, was also pretending to be a 13-year-old girl. Banwell’s question to her was explicit: “Have you ever seen a d*** before?”

On November 1, 2018, police executed a search warrant at Banwell’s residence in Llanharan while he was at work. Officers arrested him at approximately 9:40 am and seized his phone for analysis. The investigation revealed numerous conversations with the decoys, which Banwell initially admitted to during police interviews. He acknowledged using Facebook to chat with “young girls” but denied sending explicit photographs of his genitals or requesting such images from others. He claimed that he was intoxicated during the conversations and suggested that his work colleagues, who had access to his phone, might have been joking around.

Banwell also stated that his intentions in befriending the girls were simply to be friendly. However, it was noted that he had three previous convictions, including one for sending an offensive message. In that prior incident, he contacted a 14-year-old girl on social media, calling her “sexy” and asking, “Do you want to see my c***?” The girl’s mother discovered the message, but no photograph was sent.

At the court hearing, Judge Richard Twomlow highlighted that the five decoys involved in the case were from different groups and not connected to each other. Banwell, aged 36 and residing on Park View in Llanharan, pleaded guilty to five counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and two counts of failing to surrender to authorities.

He was sentenced to a three-year community order, which includes 150 hours of unpaid work. Additionally, Banwell was ordered to complete the Horizon sex offender programme and 12 days of rehabilitation. As part of his sentence, he will be required to register as a sex offender for five years and was subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order, emphasizing the seriousness of his actions and the ongoing risk he poses.