JOSE PARDINEZ FROM NEATH AND OLEA SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES IN PORT TALBOT AND RHONDDA CYNON TAFF

In May 2022, a disturbing case unfolded involving Jose Pardinez, a man linked to Neath and Olea, who engaged in a series of heinous online activities targeting a young girl. The incident came to light after a concerned mother noticed significant behavioral changes in her 12-year-old daughter, prompting her to investigate further.

During a routine check, the mother requested access to her daughter’s mobile device and discovered a troubling screenshot of a conversation on Instagram. The screenshot revealed that the girl had been communicating with an unknown male user who identified himself as Josh. In the exchange, the man had asked her to send a photograph of herself and had discussed the possibility of meeting at his residence in Port Talbot.

Although the original conversation had been deleted, the mother’s quick action in syncing her daughter’s phone allowed her to monitor ongoing activity. As the messages continued, the man persisted in messaging the account, and the mother eventually responded in her daughter’s stead. The situation escalated when the man sent a graphic photo of his genitals, prompting the mother to contact both the police and a paedophile hunter group for assistance.

Following this, a member of the paedophile hunting organization took control of the girl’s social media accounts. Over the subsequent weeks, the man, later identified as Jose Pardinez, continued to send a barrage of sexually explicit messages, including naked images of himself via WhatsApp, videos of masturbation and urination, and scenes from pornographic films. He also attempted to coerce the young girl into performing sexual acts on herself.

The paedophile hunter group coordinated with a similar organization in Wales, which led to Pardinez’s arrest at his residence on Ynys Street in Port Talbot. Police officers seized his phone and discovered a small quantity of cannabis during the search. The case was then forwarded to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in early 2021 for charging decisions. However, the initial submission was incomplete, causing a six-month delay before the case was resubmitted and ultimately approved for prosecution in August 2021. Pardinez was formally charged in February 2022 via postal requisition.

At Swansea Crown Court, Pardinez, now residing on Elias Street in Neath, pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including attempting to cause a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity, attempting to engage in sexual communication with a minor, attempting to cause a minor to view sexual images, and possession of cannabis.

During sentencing, Recorder David Harris acknowledged that a pre-sentence report indicated potential for rehabilitation with appropriate treatment. Nonetheless, he emphasized that Pardinez’s actions clearly demonstrated an intent to harm the young girl he believed he was communicating with.

Considering his guilty pleas, Pardinez received a sentence of four years in prison, with a one-third reduction. He is expected to serve up to half of this term in custody before being released on licence, after which he will serve the remainder in the community. Additionally, he will be registered as a sex offender for life and subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order, reflecting the severity of his crimes and the ongoing risk he poses.