Repeat child sex offender.

A Penclawdd man has been jailed for nine years following an intelligence-led operation by Tarian, the regional organised crime unit, along with South Wales Police.

Steven Morris, 58, from Penclawdd in Swansea, a previously convicted paedophile, appeared before Swansea Crown Court today for sentencing. He had previously pleaded guilty to sexually communicating with a child, meeting a child following sexual grooming, and breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

He was arrested on the 14th October 2021 by detectives from the Tarian Disruption Unit and investigated by Swansea Criminal Investigation Department. He was remanded in custody until his appearance today.

Morris engaged in conversation with what he believed to be a 13-year-old girl, who was in fact an undercover police officer. He told the officer, "Do mum and dad know u chat? My wife doesn't xxx." Upon hearing she was just 13 years old, Morris stated, "As long as u aren't police or gonna report me Im happy to chat and meet up if u are genuine."

Morris's conversations with the officer became more sexually explicit. He sent images of himself and began to suggest that the pair meet in person, saying things like, "If we meet it would be really secret xxxx."

A date was then arranged for Morris to meet with the undercover officer at a location in Pontypridd on the 14th October 2021. Once he arrived at the agreed location, he was quickly arrested by officers from TARIAN's Disruption Team.

Morris was given a nine-year extended sentence, four of which will be spent in prison. He was placed on the Registered Sex Offenders list indefinitely and was given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years.

Detective Inspector Dave Bancroft said: "This is an excellent operation between Tarian and South Wales Police. It is our absolute priority to protect and keep children safe in our communities, irrelevant of who or where that threat comes from. Law enforcement operates across the internet, and we will relentlessly seek to bring to justice individuals who use the web to facilitate the abuse of children."

If anyone has been a victim of child sexual abuse, I urge you to report it to your local police force via 101. We will always follow up allegations of abuse, no matter when they occurred. Victims can talk in confidence to experienced investigators, and we can also help them get access to a range of other support services.