A WELSHPOOL man reported to police after he was confronted by paedophile hunters has avoided an immediate jail sentence.

Mathew Evans, 41, was jailed for 21 months when he appeared for sentencing at Mold Crown Court today (October 13). However, Judge Niclas Parry suspended the custodial term for a period of two years.

As part of the sentence, Evans, of Clos Bryn y Ddol, Welshpool, will have to sign the sex offender’s register for 10 years and be subject of a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) for the same period.

Evans initially appeared at Welshpool Magistrates’ Court last month, where it was revealed he was reported to police by a child abuse activist group.

He admitted attempting to engage in sexual communication with a female child online and trying to meet up with her at a Costa Coffee branch in Telford, between August 1 and December 8, 2020.

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Online conversations between Evans and the girl, named ‘Zoe’, turned out to be someone posing as a child, and the defendant was reported to police.

Evans admitted attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, aged 14, in order to obtain sexual gratification for himself. He had also admitted a second charge of arranging to meet up with a victim in order to facilitate the commission of a child sex offence.

Prosecutor Molly Rumsey said on September 20 that there had been a “large amount of evidence” collected on Evans.

“The offences took place over a prolonged period of time,” she had said.

Rob Hanratty, defending Evans in the lower court, had said: “Mr Evans was caught as a result of vigilante group action."

In addition to the suspended sentence and sex offender register and sexual harm prevention order, Evans must also complete 60 days of rehabilitation activity requirements as well attend as a specified offender programme.