MARK HUXTER CAUGHT IN PONTYPRIDD TRAP BY SWANSEA HUNTERS CHILD PROTECTIVE

In a significant case that highlights the dangers of online grooming and vigilant citizen groups, Mark Huxter, a resident of Pontypridd, was caught in a sting operation orchestrated by a self-styled child protection group based in Swansea. The incident unfolded in December of the previous year, when Huxter traveled from his home in Pontypridd to Swansea with the apparent intention of meeting two young girls he believed to be 12 years old for sexual encounters.

According to court proceedings, the group known as Swansea Hunters Child Protective had set up two fake profiles on the dating website Meet4U, using the names Megan and Chloe Jones. These profiles were created with photographs of real young girls, supplied by friends of the group members, to make the profiles appear authentic. The group’s members then engaged in conversations with Huxter, who believed he was communicating with the two 12-year-old girls.

During the exchanges, the individuals behind the profiles made it clear that they were minors, specifically 12 years old and still in school. Despite this, Huxter’s messages quickly turned sexual in nature. The court heard that the conversations moved to WhatsApp, where Huxter described the sexual acts he wanted to perform on the girls and asked for their bra sizes. He also sent an explicit photograph of himself and expressed a desire for the girls to join him and the other girl, Chloe, in sexual activity. Huxter’s messages to “Megan” were similarly explicit, and he suggested that she join the meeting.

Throughout the communication, the individuals behind the profiles maintained that they were 12 years old. Huxter, however, stated that he did not mind their age as long as they did not mind his. On December 18, Huxter traveled by train from Llantrisant Road, Graig, Pontypridd, to Swansea, believing he was about to meet the girls for sexual purposes. Instead, he was met outside Swansea train station by four adults who identified themselves as members of Swansea Hunters Child Protective.

These individuals detained Huxter and handed him over to British Transport Police officers present at the station. The police took him into custody, and subsequent court proceedings revealed that Huxter had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of attempting to meet a girl he believed to be 12 years old, following online grooming.

During the sentencing hearing at Swansea Crown Court, Judge Geraint Walters addressed Huxter directly. He explained that Huxter had been the target of a “sting operation” conducted by the Swansea Hunters group, which is composed of volunteers who attempt to catch individuals seeking to engage in sexual activities with minors. The judge clarified that there was no evidence to suggest the group had used bullying or intimidation tactics against Huxter, but emphasized the risks posed by unqualified individuals engaging in such activities.

Judge Walters remarked that the group’s members are often highly skilled at luring vulnerable individuals, including those with their own issues, into their traps. He warned that such operations are best left to trained law enforcement professionals, as untrained civilians can be easily outmatched by sophisticated adult predators seeking to entrap potential offenders.

He further explained that Huxter, who was described as having his own vulnerabilities, had fallen into the trap set by the group. The judge expressed concern over the fact that Huxter was no match for the experienced members of the group, who are adept at luring individuals into their schemes. The court acknowledged that Huxter’s guilty pleas warranted a reduction in his sentence, but still imposed a significant penalty.

Huxter was sentenced to 12 months in prison for each of the two charges, with the sentences suspended for two years. Additionally, he was ordered to complete a Horizon sex offenders community program and will be required to register as a sex offender for the next seven years. The judge emphasized the importance of proper legal procedures in handling such cases, noting that the risks of unqualified groups conducting these operations could lead to unintended consequences and potential injustices.