Gillingham man ordered to register as sex offender after Snapchat misconduct

A man named Michael Wells has been convicted of serious sexual offences after attempting to communicate with who he believed to be underage girls via Snapchat. He thought he was messaging two girls aged 13 and 14, but they were actually undercover police officers. Wells, aged 35 and residing on Littlebourne Avenue, sent explicit images of his genitals and a video of masturbation to what he believed were underage girls named Molly and Maisie. He was arrested and later admitted to four offences: two counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a minor and two counts of attempting to cause a minor to view sexual images. During his court appearance at Medway Magistrates’ Court on June 6, he accepted all charges. Prosecutor Victoria Aked described the decoy officers and noted that Wells had previously been of good character. Magistrates ordered a pre-sentencing report but convicted him immediately, requiring him to register on the sex offenders register and sign the register at Medway Police Station within three days. He has been granted bail until sentencing, scheduled for August 4.