A “sad individual” who thought he was messaging a 13-year-old girl on separate social media platforms was actually speaking to a police decoy. Jonathan Davies had become “sad and lonely” during pandemic lockdown in the summer of 2021 when he took to the internet to send sexual messages to the decoy who he had thought was a minor, Cardiff Crown Court heard.
Cat Jones, prosecuting, told the court how Davies – who appeared in the dock in a blue suit with a yellow spotted tie – registered on Instagram and Chatiw under the name JonBoy1022 posing as a 21-year-old man to entice young girls. “He had thought he was talking to a 13-year-old girl when in fact he was speaking with undercover police officers working on Operation Zinc,” Ms Jones said. During the conversation the defendant asked the decoy about her school uniform – including a school shirt and underwear. He then asked her if she was wearing a thong.
“When the decoy asked what the defendant was thinking he replied ‘Sx’,” Ms Cox said. “He then added her on Instagram. He told her: ‘I hope you’re not horny’ and asked: ‘Have you got big oo’. The decoy asked if he meant boobs to which he replied: ‘Yes’.”
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Davies also asked the decoy if she would reveal her bra and if she was “feeling naughty” during the seven days of messaging sporadically between June 23 and September 29. On October 28 Gwent Police officers raided Davies’ home in Abertillery where devices were seized and information gathered on him matched police intelligence and officers were able to confirm Davies was the person behind the social media accounts.
In a police interview at Ystrad Mynach Police Station Davies, 47, of Alexandra Road, Six Bells, admitted he had spoken to children online and that it “could have been in a sexual manner”. He then pleaded guilty to sexual communication with an underage girl at Cwmbran Magistrates Court in February 2022.
Julia Cox, for Davies, said her client had “never mentioned penetrative activity” in the messages and said he had a low risk of reoffending and posed a medium risk to children. ”These are internet-based offences which have not resulted in any contact with a child,” Ms Cox said.
“There were immediate admissions on arrest and he entered a guilty plea at the earliest opportunity. He is 47, he has never before appeared before the courts, and he has no previous engagements with the criminal justice system. Clearly prison would be an alien environment for him to find himself in.”
Ms Cox also told the court that Davies lost both of his parents in 2021 leaving him isolated. He had a small group of friends in a library society but those relationships had dwindled and so his only contact with anyone was with his aunt, uncle, and cousins. They have since also distanced themselves from him due to the investigation into his behaviour online, the court heard.
“He acknowledges what he did was wrong and he is extremely remorseful for that. He has removed himself from all social media so he isn’t tempted back into this again.”
Speaking to Davies, Recorder Richard Booth said: “You are a sad individual with an unfortunate interest in young girls.” He sentenced Davies to eight months suspended for two years and was issued a sexual harm prevention order. Davies must also complete a 50-day rehabilitation programme and pay a £500 financial penalty.
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