PHILLIP BRADLEY OF CONNAH'S QUAY SENTENCED FOR MULTIPLE SEX OFFENCES AGAINST DECEITFUL CHILD TARGETS

In May 2021, Phillip Bradley, a resident of Leighton Court in Connah's Quay, was sentenced after being found guilty of attempting to incite minors to engage in sexual acts. Bradley faced eight charges, including four counts of attempting to engage in a sexual act with a child, two counts of causing a child to view sexual imagery, and two counts of attempting to arrange a child sex offence.

Bradley believed he was communicating with girls aged 12 and 14 during 2019 and 2020. However, these interactions were with paedophile hunter decoys. The court was told that Bradley tried to groom the girls by sending explicit photographs and arranging two meetings. When one girl said she was too young for sex, he called her a "mummy’s girl" and "chicken."

Judge Nicola Jones, presiding at Caernarfon Crown Court, emphasized that sexual conversations between a 39-year-old man and a child cannot be dismissed as "banter," as Bradley had claimed. She described the eighth charge—the most serious—because it was committed while Bradley was under investigation, and involved a decoy pretending to be just 12 years old.

The judge highlighted that Bradley engaged in online sexual communications with individuals posing as children over several months. She referenced around 200 pages of chat with a girl claiming to be 14, where Bradley discussed sex, arranged to meet in Rochdale, and mentioned marrying her once she turned 16. When questioned, Bradley claimed in interview that the entire exchange was fantasy.

Regarding the incident involving the 12-year-old girl in March 2020, the judge noted Bradley initially said she was too young but soon changed his stance, trying to persuade her to have sex by offering alcohol and cannabis. When she refused, he called her a "mummy’s girl" and "chicken"—an obvious attempt to pressure her. The judge stated, "There can be no circumstance whereby it is appropriate for a 39-year-old man to discuss having sex with a 12-year-old girl."

In light of his early guilty plea and efforts to address his alcohol and drug issues, Bradley was sentenced to four years in prison on the lead charge. For the other seven offences, he received sentences ranging from three months to forty months, all to run concurrently. Half of his four-year term will be served in custody, with the remainder on license. Additionally, he will be subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

Judge Jones concluded by noting, "The sentence I impose reflects that these were attempts rather than completed offences. It also recognizes the concerted efforts you made to incite not just one but three children, whom you believed to be minors, to have sex with you."