Judge’s ‘concern’ over teenage sex attacker

A JUDGE has told a teenager his attitude towards sex causes him “a great deal of concern”.

James Anthony Mason sexually assaulted a woman in her thirties in the middle of a busy bus station and made a series of lurid comments to her.

At the time of the attack the 19-year-old was being investigated for a string of sexual offences involving young teenage girls.

A judge told the teen he has “major problems in terms of sexual attitudes” about young girls, older women and even his own mother.

Swansea Crown Court heard the sexual assault took place in October last year in the Quadrant bus station in Swansea city centre.

Ian Wright, prosecuting, said Mason approached a lone female passenger and began to engage her in conversation, initially about the weather. He then began talking about sexual matters.

He then stood close to the woman and put his hand on her chest, telling her in crude terms that he wanted to have sex with her and wanted to “ride her like a seahorse”.

At the time of the assault Mason was being investigated for sending indecent images of himself to 12and 13-year-old girls he had met on the messaging service Snapchat, including live-streaming himself performing a sex act and causing another young girl to engage in sexual activity.

The court heard that the defendant also talked about his mother in sexual terms with one of the girls. Mason was 17 and 18 at the time of these offences, which came to light when the girls involved spoke to their teachers.

Mason, of Brangwyn Close, Morriston, Swansea, admitted sexual assault, causing a child under 16 to watch a sexual act, causing a child under 13 to watch a sexual act, and four counts of causing a girl under 16 to engage in sexual activity. He has no previous convictions.

Judge Paul Thomas QC said Mason was a “young man who causes me a great deal of concern”.

Mason was given a three-year community order and was made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order for five years. He will be a registered sex offender for the same length of time.

He was also made the subject of a restraining order banning him from contacting or approaching the victim of the bus station assault.