Bernard Merrells, 52, was caught when a 22-year-old man posed as a schoolgirl to snare child abusers
A paedophile was trapped by an internet vigilante posing as a 13-year-old girl called Roxy.
Bernard Merrells, 52, asked for “sexy pictures” from ‘Roxy Jones’ and performed solo sex acts in front of a web cam - believing she was a teenage schoolgirl.
But a court heard he was caught because he was really chatting to paedophile hunter Dylan Timby, 22, who posed as schoolgirls to snare child abusers.
Merrells - who claims to have worked as a “male model and film extra” - arranged to meet ‘Roxy’ for sex after he started chatting to her on a dating website.
Mr Timby then passed on a file of information to police and Merrells was arrested.
Prosecutor Craig Jones said: “Mr Timby created an account on the Waplog dating website and posed as Roxy Jones.
“It was a pseudonym of a 13-year-old girl, and he made it quite clear what her age was.
“Merrells made it clear he was 50 years old. He made it clear he was looking for a girlfriend on this website and said he’d be a good boyfriend.
“There was an exchange of mobile numbers and Whatsapp conversations took place.
“He initiated an exchange of photos and offered to send the girl indecent photos of himself.
“He sent a number of photos of himself in the nude together with pictures of his penis.
“He asked the individual for sex and there was some conversation of them meeting in a hotel for sex.”
Swansea Crown Court heard that during 12 days of messaging, Merrells sent a video of himself performing a solo sex act.
He told the “girl” not to tell her parents about their conversations, saying: “It would be bad for us.”
The court heard Mr Timby stopped the exchange in March 2015 and passed the information to South Wales Police.
Merrells was arrested and pleaded guilty to inciting a child to engage in sexual activity in November last year.
David Singh, defending, said Merrells was “remorseful”.
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Judge Peter Heywood said he “was in no doubt” Merrells’ intentions were “sexually motivated.”
He said: “You thought you were engaging in these communications with a 13-year-old girl.
“Why as a 52-year-old man you thought it was appropriate to engage with her in this way beggars belief.
“You could not complain if I sent you to prison today, which you richly deserve.”
Judge Heywood handed Merrells, from Clydach, Swansea , a one year suspended sentence and a rehabilitation course despite saying he was “a risk” to children.
He said: “You do pose a risk to young girls and this needs addressing.”
Merrells was also made to sign the sex offenders register and given a 10-year sexual harm prevention order limiting his contact with children and technology.
Speaking after the hearing, district crown prosecutor Dean Quick said: “This case is a clear demonstration of the dangers children face when they access online chat rooms.
“It has been well publicised how some paedophiles use the internet in this way.
“Fortunately on this occasion there was no child at risk and the Police were duly informed of the defendant’s activity.
“The age restrictions placed on these websites are there to protect children from inappropriate content and this case is a reminder that parents should ensure their children remain safe when using the internet.”
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/paedophile-caught-internet-vigilante-who-12472145
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