A PAEDOPHILE, Emyr Anthony, was apprehended while attempting to meet an individual he believed to be a 14-year-old boy in Carmarthenshire.
On March 7 of this year, Emyr Anthony engaged in online communication with an individual he believed to be a teenage boy, which was, in reality, a decoy account.
The decoy responded the subsequent day, and the dialogue transitioned to WhatsApp, when the decoy informed Anthony of being 14 years old, prosecutor Alycia Carpanini stated in Swansea Crown Court.
Emyr Anthony replied: ‘Yeah that’s okay, as long as you’re okay with my age’. He is 59.
Ms Carpanini said the defendant told the decoy he “likes kissing, cuddling, masturbating and sucking”, and “would go slowly” with the decoy. He also asked for a “sexy photograph”.
Emyr Anthony’s messages continued in a sexual nature, talking about masturbation and telling the decoy they would “work up slowly to penetration”.
They arranged to meet that day in Cross Hands. When the defendant arrived at the meeting spot, he was arrested by police.
Emyr Anthony answered no comment in his interview that day, but at Magistrates’ Court admitted the offences.
Emyr Anthony, of Hawthorn Avenue in Gorseinon, has two previous convictions – in 2000 and 2011 – for 35 offences.
The court heard these convictions related to having indecent images of children, and Emyr Anthony had been subject to a sexual harm prevention order, which expired in 2021.
“Clearly the mitigation in this case is limited,” David Singh, representing Emyr Anthony, admitted.
He said the author of a pre-sentence report had said Emyr Anthony was “at a loss” to explain the reason behind his offending.
“I’m not here to lecture you but it seems to me the interest you have shown sexually is an unhealthy and paedophilic interest in young boys,” Judge Huw Rees told the defendant.
Mr Singh said his client would benefit from professional intervention and support to address his offending, as he had not received that in the past.
Emyr Anthony was jailed for two years for arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence, and was handed a six-month sentence, running concurrently, for attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.
He was told he must register as a sex offender for 10 years, and was made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order for the same period of time.
A joint operation by Tarian Regional Organised Crime Unit and Dyfed-Powys Police had resulted in the arrest and prosecution of Emyr Anthony.
Detective Inspector Mathew Davies, of Tarian, said: “This is excellent joint working between Tarian and Dyfed-Powys Police. The focus of the operation was to target high-harm offenders, whilst safeguarding and protecting children.
“At Tarian, we have specialist officers who work tirelessly to protect children online as well as target those perpetrators, such as Anthony.
“It is our absolute priority to protect and keep children safe in our communities.
“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.
“If you have concerns about your use of the internet or inappropriate thoughts or behaviour about children or if you are worried about how someone you know behaves around children or are worried about their use of the internet then the Lucy Faithfull Foundation provide a free, anonymous and confidential Stop It Now! helpline on 0808 1000 900 for advice, support and information.”
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this article, then please report those individuals to the Police on 111 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.