NORMAN BALL FROM CAERWYS JAILED FOR SEXUAL OFFENCES INVOLVING UNDERAGE GIRL IN FLINTSHIRE AND PRESTATYN

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local communities of Caerwys and Prestatyn, Norman Ball, a 62-year-old man from North Street, Caerwys, has been sentenced to nearly a year in prison for a series of serious sexual offences involving a young girl from Flintshire. The offences, which spanned over a period of time, included both online grooming and physical assaults, highlighting a pattern of predatory behavior that has left lasting scars on the victim.

According to court records, the troubling sequence of events began when Ball initiated contact with the girl, who was only 13 years old at the time. Using social media platforms such as WhatsApp and Snapchat, he engaged her in conversations that quickly took a sexual turn. Prosecutor Matthew Coutts detailed that Ball sent a series of explicit messages, requesting the girl to send him nude photographs. The messages revealed a disturbing progression, with Ball asking for increasingly explicit images, despite claiming that the term “pussy” was not meant to be sexual.

Further allegations revealed that Ball's misconduct extended beyond digital communication. On two separate occasions, he physically assaulted the girl in public spaces. The first incident occurred in a local shop, where he inappropriately stroked her bottom through her clothing. The second incident took place in a chemist shop in Prestatyn, where he asked her to put her hand into his pocket to retrieve some paracetamol he had purchased for her. During this act, he touched her breast, an assault that has been described as both invasive and deeply troubling.

During the court proceedings, it was disclosed that police had recovered photographs of Ball’s penis on his mobile phone. However, Ball claimed he could not remember taking these images and insisted they were not sent to his victim. He expressed feelings of disgust about the images but maintained that he would never have touched the complainant inappropriately. Despite his claims, the evidence and victim statements painted a clear picture of grooming and abuse.

The victim, now 17, provided a heartfelt victim impact statement, revealing that she has undergone counseling and has been diagnosed with anxiety as a result of the trauma inflicted by Ball. Her words underscored the profound and lasting impact of his actions.

Ball pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including inciting a child between the ages of 13 and 15 to commit a sexual act and two counts of sexual assault. In addition to his prison sentence, he was ordered to be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for seven years and to register as a sex offender for the same duration. The court’s decision reflects the seriousness of his offenses and the need to protect vulnerable minors from similar predatory behavior in the future.