MAN JAILED FOR SEXUAL ACTIVITY WITH GIRL AGED UNDER 16:
A GWYNEDD man has been jailed for engaging in sexual activity with a teenage girl.
Leon David Owen showed no emotion throughout a sentencing hearing at Caernarfon Crown Court last week as details of the offences were outlined by the prosecution.
The 37-year-old, of Chapel Street, Porthmadog, admitted a single charge of sexual activity with a child aged under 16.
Jailing him four years, Judge Nicola Jones said there were aggravating features to his offending and only a jail term could be justified.
She added she was concerned he had shown a lack of empathy and understanding of what he had done and that he had sought to minimise the offence.
Sarah Badrawy, prosecuting, said Owen was said to have befriended the girl, buying her alcohol and gifts.
The barrister said that Owen would have been fully aware of the girl’s age at the time.
When the matters came to light he initially refused to answer police questions but later admitted the offence.
Defence counsel Elen Owen said since last August the defendant had turned his life around and had stopped drinking alcohol.
She added that Owen will take advantage of any rehabilitation courses that are available to him in prison.
Owen was made subject of an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and must also sign the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.
After the hearing, Det Con Dave Maccall said: “Child sexual exploitation is a despicable crime, and one we take extremely seriously.
“We will continue to pursue perpetrators vigorously, in order to keep our communities as safe as possible.”