Believed he was speaking to a child
Christopher Jones, 55, of Swansea’s SA1 Waterfront, exchanged explicit messages with an account he believed belonged to a girl under 16. In reality, the account was a decoy run by an independent online child protection team.
Jones pleaded guilty to attempting to incite a girl aged 13–15 to engage in sexual activity and attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.
He was sentenced to 28 months in prison.
Police response
Detective Constable Tim Davies of South Wales Police said Jones’s behaviour showed he posed a clear risk to children.
“Christopher Jones’s messages to the decoy account were abhorrent and it was clear that he believed he was speaking to a young teenager.
People like Christopher quite clearly pose a risk to the safety of children, and it is highly fortunate that the person on the other side of the conversation was a decoy rather than a real child.
He will no longer be able to pose that risk now that he is heading for prison.”
DC Davies added that there is “absolutely no defence, justification, or excuse for the horrific crime of child sexual abuse.”
Support for survivors
Police said they recognise how difficult it can be for survivors of sexual abuse to come forward, but stressed that victims will be listened to, treated with dignity and respect, and supported throughout the judicial process.
Anyone affected by sexual abuse who is not yet ready to report to police is encouraged to seek help from specialist support services.
