STEPHEN RYAN FROM CHIRK SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENSES IN NORTH WALES

In March 2022, Stephen Joseph Ryan, a 61-year-old former bus driver residing in Lodgevale Park, Chirk, found himself in serious legal trouble after engaging in disturbing online conversations with what he believed were underage girls. Unbeknownst to him, he had fallen into the traps set by two separate paedophile hunter groups operating covertly on the internet.

Ryan faced the court at Mold Crown Court to answer charges related to attempts at sexual communication with minors and inciting them to engage in sexual activities. The prosecution, led by Mr. Robert Edwards, detailed how Ryan’s actions came to light through online sting operations conducted by vigilant groups aiming to catch predators.

According to the court proceedings, on September 6, 2019, Ryan initiated contact with a decoy profile on social media, believing he was speaking to a 13-year-old girl named Daisy. Ryan used a pseudonym during their online exchanges, which quickly turned inappropriate. Despite being repeatedly informed of the girl’s age, Ryan continued to pursue the conversation, steering it toward sexual topics. He asked her if she was “naughty” and requested images of her in a school uniform, indicating a clear sexual interest.

The court heard that the conversation then moved to a different online platform, where Ryan, then aged 59, asked the decoy if she was “developing as a woman.” When the decoy responded unsure of his question, Ryan sent her a pornographic video, instructing her to watch it as an “assignment” to better understand his intentions.

In October, Ryan approached a second decoy, also aged 13 and calling herself Melanie, using a new fake profile claiming he was “looking for friends.” The court was told that Ryan asked her if she was “a pure virgin” and continued to send increasingly sexual messages. During these exchanges, Ryan also sent two video clips of himself via Facebook Messenger, making references to “other children” he was speaking with online.

Ryan’s online activities were eventually uncovered by a third party after he disclosed his personal details to a third profile. This led to a sting operation on December 4, 2019, conducted by a local activist group that had provided information to North Wales Police. Ryan was arrested the following day.

During police interviews, Ryan chose not to comment on the allegations. The court was told that his actions demonstrated a clear pattern of predatory behavior involving minors.

Judge Nicola Saffman sentenced Ryan to three years and four months in prison for his offences. Additionally, she imposed an indefinite sexual harm prevention order, which restricts him from using any device with internet access unless approved and inspected by police. This order aims to prevent any future attempts to contact minors online and to protect potential victims from further harm.