Man Jailed for Raping 12-Year-Old While on Bail

Wesley Roberts, 22, of Old Colwyn, Conwy, has been sentenced to jail for six years for raping a 12-year-old girl. Roberts was already on bail awaiting trial for having sex with a 14-year-old girl when he committed the latest offense.

Mold Crown Court heard that Roberts befriended the 12-year-old on Facebook and raped her the first time they met. He admitted to both the rape and the sexual activity with the 14-year-old.

Judge Niclas Parry, who sentenced Roberts to an additional two and a half years for the earlier offense, said that he had considered an extended sentence due to the severity of the crimes.

"You knew she was only 12," Judge Parry said to Roberts. "You are a high risk of harm to children in the form of sexual offences and rape."

The court heard that Roberts had formed an online relationship with the 12-year-old while on bail for the offense involving the 14-year-old, whom he had also befriended on Facebook in the summer of 2012.

Det Insp Lisa Surridge stated, "It is important that people understand the part that social network sites such as Facebook can play in this type of offense. The victims in this case and their families have demonstrated immense courage and resilience in standing up to the offender. North Wales Police takes matters of this nature very seriously and it is reassuring to see this reflected in the sentence passed out."