Deganwy Man Jailed for Online Grooming

Eric Hughes, 40, of Tan-y-Fron, Deganwy, was sentenced to 27 months' imprisonment at Caernarfon Crown Court on May 15 for attempting to groom a person he believed to be a 14-year-old girl through social media platforms.

The court heard that on April 6 and 7, 2022, Hughes sent sexually explicit messages to a member of the "Child Online Safety Team" who was posing as a 14-year-old girl on Facebook and WhatsApp.

Hughes initiated contact with the decoy profile, sending a friend request that was accepted. After initial conversations, he learned that the girl was supposedly from Newcastle and was a school pupil. Despite being 39 at the time, he claimed to be 30 and sent a picture of himself to her, adding suggestive comments about her appearance.

The decoy profile confirmed her age as 14 and sent Hughes a picture of a young girl. Despite this, he continued to make explicit sexual remarks towards her, even suggesting "phone sex" after she expressed unfamiliarity with the term.

The group's administrators and later the police were contacted, leading to Hughes' arrest on April 8, 2022. In police interviews, he denied any wrongdoing. However, the court noted that his actions were a breach of a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) issued in March 2019, which prohibited him from using social media platforms. He had also received a conditional caution in 2020 for an earlier breach of the SHPO.

Defending Hughes, Sarah Yates emphasized that no actual child was involved and no harm was caused. She described him as having a strong work ethic and a history of stable employment.

Sentencing Hughes, Recorder Wyn Lloyd-Jones expressed his disbelief at Hughes' blatant lies to police and his continued disregard for the SHPO. He stressed that Hughes' actions were motivated by selfish sexual gratification and that despite previous warnings and treatment, his behavior remained unchanged.

Hughes was also made subject to sex offenders register notification requirements and a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order. He will pay a statutory surcharge upon release from prison.