JOSE PARDINEZ-OLEA SHOCKS NEATH AND PORT TALBOT WITH SICKENING PAEDOPHILE PLOT

A man named Jose Pardinez-Olea has been convicted and sentenced to prison for engaging in a disturbing pattern of grooming and attempting to exploit a young girl in the Neath and Port Talbot areas. The case came to light after the mother of a girl from Rhondda Cynon Taf noticed troubling changes in her daughter's behaviour, prompting her to investigate further.

The mother, concerned about her child's eating habits and her increasingly secretive use of her mobile phone, requested to see her daughter's device. It was then that she discovered a troubling screenshot of a conversation on Instagram, which her daughter had shared with a friend. The chat was with a man claiming to be named Josh, and it revealed that he wanted the girl to send a photograph of herself, and even discussed meeting him at his residence in Port Talbot.

The original chat had been deleted, but the mother’s quick action in syncing her phone allowed her to continue monitoring the interaction. As the messages persisted, the mother decided to respond on her daughter’s behalf, until Josh shockingly sent a graphic image of his genitals, which prompted her to involve the police and specialist paedophile hunters.

A member of the vigilante group took control of the girl's online accounts to track the suspect. Over the following weeks, this individual, acting on behalf of the group, received and forwarded highly inappropriate and sexual messages from the man, who would later be identified as 41-year-old Jose Pardinez-Olea. Pardinez-Olea sent images of himself masturbating and urinating, scenes from pornographic films, and explicit videos of himself, trying to persuade the young girl to perform sexual acts.

The vigilante group coordinated with Welsh authorities, leading to Pardinez-Olea’s arrest at his residence on Ynys Street in Port Talbot. Police officers seized his mobile device and recovered a small quantity of cannabis from his home. The case file was initially sent to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in early 2021, but due to incomplete paperwork, it was returned. It wasn’t until August of the following year that the CPS approved the case for prosecution. Pardinez-Olea was formally charged in February 2022 via postal requisition.

During his court appearance, Pardinez-Olea, who now resides on Elias Street in Neath, pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including attempting to cause a girl under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity, attempting to engage in sexual communication with a minor, attempting to induce a minor to view sexual images, and possession of cannabis. It was also revealed that he had a prior conviction for drink-driving involving excess alcohol.

The court heard from his legal representative, Giles Hayes, that Pardinez-Olea viewed his arrest as a turning point, noting that he has since ceased drinking and drug use, resumed employment, and expressed remorse. The pre-sentence report suggested that, with proper support and treatment, there is a significant chance for rehabilitation.

However, the judge, Recorder David Harris, emphasized that Pardinez-Olea clearly intended harm, despite his remorse. Considering the guilty pleas, Pardinez-Olea was sentenced to four years in prison, with an expectation that he would serve approximately half of that sentence before being released on license. He was also declared a sex offender for life and ordered to adhere to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

This case underscores the serious threat posed by online grooming and the importance of vigilance by parents and authorities in protecting vulnerable children from such predatory behaviour in the Neath and Port Talbot communities.