A man has been spared jail after he sent a Snapchat message to a schoolgirl telling her to come over and have sex with him while his then-girlfriend was away.

Ryan Hughes, from Bettws Cedewain near Newtown, was handed a 21-week prison sentence which was suspended for 18 months after pleading guilty to the offence of sexual communication with a teenager when he appeared at Mold Crown Court on Tuesday, July 16.

The more serious matter of inciting the girl to engage in sexual activity by penetration was ordered by the judge to 'lie on the file'.

A criminal investigation was sparked in April 2022 after the girl's mother confiscated her phone.

While checking for photos of her daughter vaping, a Snapchat message popped up from 'Ryan' which asked the teen to come over while his girlfriend was away. He told her she could "f*** me".

The mother also found a photo on her daughter's phone of Hughes, 30, in his boxer shorts and unbuttoned shirt.

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After being confronted about the message, the court was told that the teenager "begged her mum not to go to the police because everyone would hate her".

Prosecuting barrister Simon Parry said the girl "didn't think the defendant had done anything wrong or like it before", and that the message was "just banter".

Hughes was arrested and his phone was searched by forensically trained police officers who found no indecent images of children or search terms associated with an "illegal or unhealthy" interest in children.

The Bettws Cedewain man told police that the message was "hollow banter" and that nothing would have come as a result.

Mr Parry said Hughes, who had no previous convictions or cautions, knew it was inappropriate.

'Clearly acting inappropriately' 

Defence barrister Philip Clemo told the court that Hughes' behaviour was an "aberration".

He said: "Clearly it was a very specific incident on one specific message."

Mr Clemo added that there had been an "unconscionable delay" for the case to come to court and that Hughes had a more serious matter "hanging over his head for a considerable time".

"He's admitted fault," the barrister said. "It's clear in the pre-sentence report that there is still work needed to address his behaviour and thinking. He was clearly acting in an inappropriate way.

"He has a six-month-old son and a new partner. He has a new focus in life and a reason to be the best man he can be.

"He feels like his life is getting back on track and there is no doubt that is a positive thing."

The barrister said a sexual harm prevention order would be unnecessary, describing it as a "sledgehammer to crack a nut", with prosecutor Mr Parry agreeing on the basis it was "isolated offending".

'Distasteful images'

His Honour Judge Rhys Rowlands told Hughes that he was almost twice the age of the girl when he sent the "distasteful" messages.

"You were aware that she was in school," he said.

"The offence came to light when the victim’s mother saw a message on her phone that suggested she come over and have sex with you and she found a fairly distasteful photo of you wearing pair of boxer shorts and your shirt open.

"You accepted that you sent a message, but it was merely 'banter' and not sexual in nature.

"It was plainly inappropriate. It is sexual in nature. I don’t accept it was an innocent photograph. It was a distasteful image.

"You were 28 years old. Almost twice the age of the child.

"You seek to minimise what you did, and it does take away in my view as being genuinely contrite.

(Image: NQ)

"Nonetheless you have had a good work record. You were a man of good character and crucially there has been delay. You are being dealt with for behaviour that happened two years ago."

He said it crossed the custody threshold, but must bear in mind the chance of rehabilitation and overcrowding in prisons.

He added it was a 'serious' matter, but also a one-off incident.

Hughes, of Bryn Teg, was ordered to complete a programme and rehabilitation for up to 45 sessions each. He must also pay £500 court costs and a £128 victim surcharge.

The judge made Hughes subject of a notification requirement for seven years meaning he must tell police if he uses a different name or lives at a new address. He barred him from working with children and vulnerable adults.

'Appalling delay'

Judge Rowlands raised concerns about the "appalling delay" by police investigating the offence.

"There has been no hint of apology, no hint of regret," the judge said about a report from Dyfed-Powys Police about the investigation. "This isn't what I expect.

"Dyfed-Powys Police used to have a fantastic reputation.

"Do they regret the appalling delay? I want to know who the author of the report is.

"I have never seen one [a report] where they don't realise that there are failings. It is literally 'over to you, and I don't give a proverbial'.

"Two years! It was entirely straightforward. Although in September 2022 it comes back, and they have not done anything for months and months. Then in November 2023 the CPS don't sit on it."

He added that he could take the matter 'higher up' without an acceptable response.