Terry Hughes, of Meadow Way in Waterston, Milford Haven, appeared at Swansea Crown Court on Wednesday, 30 July, where he pleaded guilty to a string of child sex offences despite being subject to an existing sexual harm prevention order (SHPO).
Hughes, already a registered sex offender due to prior convictions, created multiple online accounts and asked children to send indecent images of themselves.
The court heard that police were alerted to suspicious online activity connected to an IP address traced back to Hughes. Officers attended his Pembrokeshire home, where Hughes initially denied possessing any electronic devices but later handed over a mobile phone found beside his bed.
Analysis of the device revealed that between September last year and June this year, Hughes had used Snapchat to impersonate a 15-year-old, actively contacting people he believed to be under the age of 18 and soliciting naked photographs.
Prosecuting, Alycia Carpanini explained that Hughes had sent indecent photos of himself, including at least one believed to show him masturbating.
Communication was also found between Hughes and an individual he believed to be just 10 years old, as well as with an adult man with a four-year-old son, with disturbing discussions about a young child in a nappy.
Hughes sent multiple nude images of himself to others and, in total, admitted to two counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, attempting to cause a child to view a sexual act, making an indecent image, and breaching the conditions of a sexual harm prevention order.
Defending, David Singh said Hughes “deeply regrets his behaviour” and acknowledges he has “a real problem”.
Passing sentence, Judge Geraint Walters told Hughes he “relentlessly pursued an interest in engaging with this behaviour”.
In addition to his prison sentence, Hughes was made subject to a new SHPO, which will remain in place for 10 years.
[Lead image: Dyfed Powys Police]
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