OWAIN THOMAS PLEADS GUILTY TO CHILD SEX OFFENCES IN PONTYPRIDD AND RHONDDA CYNON TAF

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Pontypridd and the surrounding Rhondda Cynon Taff area, Owain Thomas, aged 29, has been convicted of a series of heinous crimes involving the grooming and sexual exploitation of nearly 150 children through online platforms. The case, which unfolded over a period of approximately 18 months, revealed a pattern of predatory behavior that exploited the anonymity of the internet to target vulnerable young victims.

Thomas, a law graduate from Aberystwyth University and a former paralegal working in South Wales, used multiple online identities to establish contact with children across various regions, including south Wales, west Yorkshire, south Yorkshire, Northern Ireland, Lancashire, and even the United States. His method involved creating fake profiles on popular gaming platforms such as Roblox, a widely used multiplayer online game with millions of users worldwide, particularly appealing to children and teenagers. Through these profiles, Thomas would engage children in conversations, often pretending to be a peer or a young girl, and persuade them to perform sexual acts on camera.

His criminal activities came to light after a group of young boys, aged between seven and 14, confided in their parents about inappropriate behavior by Thomas at a playground in Ferndale, Rhondda Cynon Taff. The parents promptly contacted the police, who responded swiftly. Using CCTV footage, officers traced Thomas to his home in Pontypridd, where they seized his laptops and electronic devices. During his arrest, Thomas was heard to say, “That’s the one I didn’t want you to find,” indicating his awareness of the incriminating evidence against him.

Investigators uncovered a staggering 110 hours of footage depicting abuse, much of which involved children under the age of 13, some as young as nine. The evidence revealed that Thomas had paid a 10-year-old victim 400 Robux, the in-game currency, to perform a sexual act while he watched via webcam. The extent of his offending was further detailed in court, where prosecutors described the case as “unprecedented” due to the sheer volume of charges and victims involved.

During the investigation, police also discovered that Thomas had used sophisticated software to adopt the identities of children, including both boys and girls as young as eight. He would sometimes pretend to be multiple children simultaneously in online conversations, creating a confusing and coercive environment for his victims. His messages included disturbing comments such as “Let me see your butts” and “I dare you to show me your thingy,” often accompanied by offers of payment or threats to pressure children into sexual acts.

Thomas’s activities extended beyond online interactions. He approached children in person, notably two brothers outside a primary school, where he made inappropriate and threatening remarks. The police investigation revealed that he had also stored indecent images on his devices, including footage of his abuse, which was analyzed and found to contain 175 hours of disturbing material.

At Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court, Judge Richard Twomlow sentenced Thomas to 10 years in prison, with an additional five years on extended licence. The judge described him as “persistent” and a “significant risk to the public,” emphasizing the dangerous nature of his offending. Thomas pleaded guilty to 158 counts, including causing or inciting children to engage in sexual activity, possessing indecent photographs, and distributing such images.

In his remarks, Judge Twomlow highlighted the devastating impact on the victims, many of whom were under 13, and expressed concern over Thomas’s continued attempts to manipulate and exploit children despite his awareness of the law and the harm caused. The case has raised serious questions about online safety and the measures needed to protect children from predators operating in digital spaces. Thomas’s actions, which involved the use of multiple online platforms such as Facebook, FaceTime, Skype, Minecraft, and Roblox, demonstrated a calculated effort to prey on vulnerable children and satisfy his depraved sexual interests.

As the case concludes, authorities and community members alike are calling for increased vigilance and protective measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future. The court has adjourned sentencing for a later date, but the severity of the charges and the evidence presented underscore the grave nature of Owain Thomas’s crimes and the ongoing threat posed by online predators.