ROBERT GILLIATT FROM CONWY ESCAPES JAIL AFTER SEX MESSAGE SCANDAL
In a case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Conwy, Robert Gilliatt, aged 27, from Hewitt Close, Penrhyn Bay, narrowly avoided imprisonment after being found guilty of sending inappropriate sexual messages to underage girls.The incident dates back to November 2019, when Gilliatt believed he was communicating with a 14-year-old girl via the Kik messaging platform.
However, it was later revealed that he was actually speaking to an undercover police officer, as confirmed during proceedings at Caernarfon Crown Court.
Following the investigation, authorities uncovered that Gilliatt had reached out to three additional girls, all believed to be between 14 and 15 years old, with the intent of engaging them in sexual conversations.
The police also discovered that his mobile phone contained search terms indicating a sexual interest in children, a detail highlighted by Judge Huw Rees, who emphasized that any claims of innocence or denial of such interests were entirely unfounded and unrealistic.
Gilliatt faced multiple charges, including attempting to incite minors to engage in sexual activity, attempting to communicate sexually with a child, and attempting to persuade a girl to partake in sexual acts.
He admitted to seven offences in total, while three other charges were allowed to remain on file with not guilty pleas.
During sentencing, Judge Rees stated, "In total, you contacted four girls, believing them to be under 16 years of age.
The fact that no harm was ultimately caused was not due to any virtue or action on your part." The court sentenced Gilliatt to 12 months in prison for the most serious offence of attempting to incite a girl to engage in sexual activity.
The other charges resulted in sentences of three to five months, which are to run concurrently, but these were suspended for a period of 24 months.
As part of his rehabilitation, Gilliatt was ordered to participate in an 80-day rehabilitation activity requirement, consisting of 45 sessions, and to complete 100 hours of unpaid community service.
Additionally, the court imposed a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) for ten years and mandated that he register on the sex offenders register (SOR) for the same duration.
The mobile phone used in the offences was ordered to be forfeited and destroyed, and Gilliatt was also required to pay a victim surcharge of £149.
