CARDIFF MAN GUILTY OF ONLINE CHILD ABUSE AND DRUGS SUPPLY SUFFERS PANIC ATTACK IN COURT
Kyle Attard, 30, of Cardiff, engaged in illegal sexual activities by communicating with a decoy account on Snapchat, believing it to be a 12-year-old girl.He sent videos of himself masturbating and requested explicit images.
On one occasion, he was asked to take off his clothes and record himself in the shower.
He also attempted to contact a purported 15-year-old girl in America, sending her nude pictures and more explicit videos.
During his sentencing at Cardiff Crown Court, he suffered a panic attack after pleading guilty to attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity, attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, and possession with intent to supply Class A drugs, including crack cocaine.
Police searches uncovered 10.6g of crack cocaine and 11.6g of cocaine, along with messages indicating street-level drug dealing.
Attard, who has 15 previous convictions including unlawful wounding, cited longstanding crack addiction and debt as motives for his actions.
His lawyer described him as having an anxiety disorder, personality disorder, and suicidal ideation, and mentioned that he had experienced multiple bereavements, including the murder of his uncle in 2006.
The judge sentenced Attard to four years and four months in prison and imposed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
