Swansea Crown Court heard that between June and December last year, Rio Thomas used the Snapchat messaging app to send explicit videos of himself to several schoolgirls, along with sexual messages. Some of the communications contained highly disturbing references.
When victims blocked him, he set up new accounts to continue making contact.
Police arrested Thomas in Briton Ferry on 14 December. As he was being escorted to a waiting van, he asked officers to remove his handcuffs so he could put on a jacket, before attempting to flee. A search, including the use of a drone, located him in Gethin Street around two hours later.
Investigators were able to link the accounts used in the offending to Thomas and addresses connected to him, including his grandmother’s home in Maesteg.
Thomas, of Glanymor Street, pleaded guilty to causing a child to watch a sexual act, engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, engaging in sexual communications with a child, and escaping lawful custody. Four further counts of sexual communication with a child were taken into consideration.
The court was told he began using cannabis in early adolescence and later cocaine, spending long periods isolated in his bedroom. A pre‑sentence report concluded he poses a high risk of harm to children and would require a structured plan for supervision upon release.
Judge Geraint Walters imposed a sentence of 28 months’ detention. Thomas will be on the sex offenders register for 10 years and is subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for the same period.
