SHOCKING CRIME: STEVEN TWINBRU FROM BARRY AND SPLOTT JAILED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENSES IN CARDIFF

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the communities of Barry and Splott, Steven Twinbru, aged 32, was sentenced to five years in prison after being found guilty of heinous online child abuse-related offenses. The incident came to light after police investigations uncovered a series of disturbing online interactions involving Twinbru, who at the time was residing in Heddfan North, Pentwyn, Cardiff, having previously lived in the areas of Barry and Splott.

According to court proceedings, Twinbru was actively involved in live webcam chats with another individual, Lee Mills, a 31-year-old nursery janitor from St Fagan’s Avenue, Barry. The chats, which took place on June 8 of the previous year, revealed Twinbru encouraging Mills to commit sexual abuse on camera, under the false belief that Mills had a very young child with him. During these exchanges, Twinbru allegedly urged Mills to carry out acts of abuse, even suggesting that he had just been subjected to a sexual act by a ten-year-old girl. In one chilling remark, Twinbru asked Mills for the girl’s contact details, indicating a disturbing level of interest in child exploitation.

Further investigation by police revealed that Mills had been downloading images of child sexual abuse and kept a pair of knickers belonging to a toddler in his bedroom. Mills’ online activities had previously led to a 10-month jail sentence, and his employment at a nursery had been terminated due to concerns over his conduct, although no children from his workplace were involved in the images he possessed.

During the court hearing, Judge Daniel Williams described the disturbing nature of the online exchanges. He stated that Twinbru and Mills had encouraged each other into increasingly daring and depraved fantasies involving the sexual abuse of children. The judge highlighted that the pair had a long-standing shared interest in such heinous acts, which was confirmed when police discovered images on Twinbru’s computer rated up to level four on a seriousness scale of one to five.

Judge Williams emphasized that Twinbru’s actions went beyond mere curiosity or experimentation. He pointed out that Twinbru had been actively encouraging Mills to commit acts of child abuse on camera, and that their conversations included discussions about the sexual exploitation of children, including references to young girls and the possibility of abusing children on holiday in Spain. The court was told that Twinbru expressed a willingness to do anything to see Mills carry out these acts.

In his sentencing remarks, Judge Williams condemned the pair’s behavior, describing them as “committed paedophiles” who had been encouraging each other for many years. He noted that Twinbru had admitted to offences under the 2007 Serious Crimes Act, specifically for encouraging another person to commit illegal sexual acts involving children. The judge also ordered Twinbru to be placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register, reflecting the severity of his crimes.

Despite the gravity of his actions, Twinbru’s probation report surprisingly assessed him as a “low risk,” a conclusion that the judge described as “astonishing.” The court’s decision underscores the importance of vigilance and the need for stringent measures to prevent such individuals from reoffending and to protect vulnerable children from exploitation and abuse.