RYAN PAUL SKWEES FROM ILLONGAN SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENSES IN CORNWALL

A man from Illogan, Cornwall, has been convicted of serious offenses related to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a minor online. Ryan Paul Skewes, aged 41, became the focus of a police investigation after he initiated an online conversation with what he believed was a 12-year-old girl. The interaction took place on the website Chatiw in November 2022, during which Skewes falsely claimed to be 25 years old. From the outset, he was aware that the person he was speaking with was not a real child but an undercover police officer.

Skewes, who resides on Lamanva Road in Voguebeloth, Illogan, proceeded to ask the supposed minor to send explicit images. His requests included photographs of her breasts and images of her in her underwear. The police investigation revealed that Skewes’s intentions were disturbingly explicit, as he later asked the girl to send a photo of herself masturbating in her school bathroom. Despite being told that the individual was a police officer, Skewes continued to pursue the conversation.

During their exchanges, Skewes provided a Google Mail address and persisted in requesting images, claiming that his phone was broken and he could not send pictures himself. The girl repeatedly declined his advances. After a period of silence, the communication resumed in December 2022, during which Skewes made further requests for explicit images, including photographs of her breasts and underwear. The girl continued to refuse, but Skewes’s persistent behavior demonstrated his continued intent.

The police were alerted when an undercover officer from a Midlands police service traced Skewes’s IP address to his home in Illogan. Following this, Devon and Cornwall Police arrested Skewes, conducted a search of his property, and formally charged him in 2023. The investigation and subsequent legal proceedings culminated in his appearance at Truro Crown Court for sentencing on October 10.

During the court hearing, His Honour Judge Simon Carr acknowledged the seriousness of Skewes’s actions. The judge noted that Skewes himself admitted in a pre-sentencing report that these were concerning offenses. The judge emphasized that Skewes believed he was communicating with a child, but in reality, he was engaging with an undercover police officer. The judge also pointed out that the only reason the communication ceased was due to police intervention.

As a result of his actions, Skewes was sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for two years. He is required to complete a rehabilitation program and will be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO). Additionally, Skewes has been registered as a sex offender, reflecting the gravity of his offenses and the ongoing risk he poses to the community.