Swansea man jailed after sending sexual messages to decoy

A man from Swansea has been jailed after he was caught exchanging sexual messages with a decoy account which he believed to be a 14-year-old girl.

34-year-old Guy Brigdale, from Fforestfach, pleaded guilty to numerous offences following the messages he sent in January of this year, which included:

• Attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child
• Attempting to cause/incite a girl aged 13-15 to engage in sexual activity
• Attempting to cause a child aged 13-15 to watch/look at an image of sexual activity
• Attempting to meet a child under the age of 16 following grooming
• Breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order

For the combined offences, Brigdale has been handed an extended 12-year sentence. 

Detective Sergeant Samuel Stanway said:

“The messages sent by Guy Brigdale, to an individual he believed was a child, were abhorrent.

“There is no place for anyone who willingly engages in sexual communication with a child in our society. It is very fortunate that this wasn’t a real child involved in the conversation, as they could have been posed a great danger by someone like Guy Brigdale.

“The right place for him is prison, as is highlighted by this lengthy sentence.”