LUCAS SHAW

DYSERTH TEEN SENTENCED FOR ATTEMPTING TO CONTACT AND SEND EXPLICIT IMAGES TO A DECOY GIRL

A TEENAGER from Dyserth who sent a decoy 13-year-old girl an explicit image of himself was caught out by online vigilantes.

Lucas Shaw was told by the decoy that she was 13 (it was, in fact, an adult posing as a 13-year-old), but proceeded to send her explicit messages, before disclosing his address.

Shaw, 18, of Maes Y Foel, was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment, suspended for a year-and-a-half, at Mold Crown Court today (November 1), having previously admitted attempted sexual communication with a child.

He is released from custody, having been remanded in late September following a breach of bail conditions.

Prosecutor Elen Owen told the court that, on June 25, Shaw sent a friend request to the decoy account – after acceptance, she told him she was 13, and he replied saying he was 18.

Phone numbers were exchanged, and on June 28, Shaw sent selfies of himself on WhatsApp, and said he would like to date her if she was older.

On July 1, he used words like 'horny' and 'sexy' in conversation, then on July 2, told her 'I love you, baby'.

He also asked if she knew what 'nudes' were, and sent a picture of his genitalia.

On July 3, members of an online vigilante group pretending to be a delivery driver obtained Shaw's address.

After sharing this, he was arrested and his mobile phone seized on July 4.

Shaw pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and had no previous convictions.

Judge Niclas Parry sentenced him to 8 months' imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, and ordered him to complete 45 days’ rehabilitation, a 45-session programme, and 80 hours’ unpaid work.

He also must adhere to sex offender register requirements and a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years, and his phone will be forfeited and destroyed.