TEENAGER RIO THOMAS SENTENCED TO 28 MONTHS FOR CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE AND SNAPCHAT CRIMES
A teenager sent videos of his penis to schoolgirls, a court has heard.Rio Thomas has been described as posing a high risk of harm to children.
The 19-year-old's barrister told Swansea Crown Court that her client had done very little in latter teenage years apart from staying in his bedroom and taking cannabis and cocaine on a daily basis.
The judge stated that from everything he had read about Thomas, it was clear he had "an obsession with sexual matters" and said a "clear and structured plan" would need to be implemented to supervise him in the community after his release.
The court was informed that between June and December last year, Thomas sent a series of videos of himself masturbating to girls via Snapchat, along with sexually explicit messages, some referencing sex acts he wanted to do with his mother.
When the victims blocked him, he would create new Snapchat accounts and resume contact.
The police arrested him in Briton Ferry on December 14, after a drone searched for him when he ran off as he was being taken to the police van.
During questioning, Thomas denied sending the videos, claiming images of him were everywhere in Port Talbot, Maesteg, and Bridgend, and he described himself as "a horny b******." Police linked the Snapchat accounts to Thomas and his addresses, including his grandmother’s house in Maesteg.
Thomas had previously pleaded guilty to causing a child to watch a sexual act, engaging in sexual activity with a child, engaging in sexual communications with a child, and escaping lawful custody.
He also asked for four counts involving sexual communications with young girls to be considered.
His previous conviction was for aggravated vehicle taking, for which he received a referral order.
The court heard that Thomas started taking cannabis at 14 and cocaine at 15, mainly spending his latter teenage years in his room using drugs.
The judge emphasized his "obsession with sexual matters" and the high risk he posed to children.
He was sentenced to 28 months in a young offenders institution, will be registered as a sex offender for 10 years, and subject to a 10-year sexual harm prevention order.
