Man jailed after campaign of abuse against schoolgirl

A SWANSEA man sent a girl videos of him pleasuring himself, touched her sexually, and told her he wanted them to “skin cwtch”, a court has heard.

A judge said 25-year-old Matthew Thomas had carried out a “campaign” of abuse against the schoolgirl.

Swansea Crown Court heard warehouse worker Thomas began by sending “inappropriate” text messages to his victim before sending her obscene videos on the messaging service Snapchat, and asking her to send him naked pictures of herself.

Craig Jones, prosecuting, said the girl was afraid to tell anyone what was happening.

Eventually the victim did send the defendant a picture of herself in her underwear because “she did not want to disappoint him”.

Thomas, of Bronwydd, Birchgrove, Swansea, had previously pleaded guilty to sexual assault of a child under 15, attempting to incite a child to perform sexual acts, causing a child to view a sexual act, and possessing an indecent image of a child.

Kate Williams, for Thomas, said her client had been unable to provide an explanation for his behaviour.

Judge Geraint Walters described the defendant’s behaviour as a “campaign” against the girl which had lasted over a number of weeks.

He told the Thomas he had clearly developed a disturbing sexual interest in young girls.

He was jailed for two years, was made the subject of a restraining order, and will be on the sex offenders register for 10 years.