In 2019, Charles Dale Miller, then aged 53, of The Strand, Swansea, South Wales, was sentenced to an extended sentence of eight years and four months at Swansea Crown Court after attempting to groom young girls online just weeks after being released from prison.
The prosecution followed an investigation by South Wales Police after Miller was snared in an online sting operation by the Elusive Child Protection Unit.
The court heard that in November 2018, Miller had received a two-year prison sentence and was made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) for attempting to incite young girls into sexual activity.
Miller was released on licence in August 2019.
Prosecutor Robin Rouch detailed that while Miller provided police with certain phones for routine monitoring, he concealed a secret smartphone from authorities to bypass his licence and SHPO conditions.
Using the hidden device, Miller entered online chat rooms and targeted accounts he believed were operated by girls aged 12 and 13.
The profiles were decoys run by child protection hunters.
Miller engaged in sexually explicit messaging, transmitted photographs of his penis to who he believed was a 12-year-old girl, and actively arranged to meet the youngsters for sexual activity.
To advance the offences, Miller booked a hotel room in Cardiff for a two-night stay.
On 9 October 2019, members of the decoy group located Miller in Swansea, confronted him in the street, and detained him until responding police officers took him into custody.
Miller entered guilty pleas to:
- Three counts of attempting to incite girls to engage in sexual activity
- One count of breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order
Defence counsel stated that Miller led an isolated and lonely life in the community and experienced significant communication difficulties.
Judge Paul Thomas QC rejected mitigating submissions, finding that Miller’s actions in booking a hotel room were sinister and stating there was no doubt he represented a dangerous offender.
The judge handed down an extended sentence of eight years and four months, consisting of three years and four months (40 months) in prison custody and an extended licence period of five years.
Miller was also made subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order severely restricting his internet access and was placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life.
Release Calculation: Under UK sentencing legislation governing extended determinate sentences for serious sexual offences, Miller was required to serve two-thirds (26.6 months / 2 years, 2 months, and 2 weeks) of his 40-month custodial term in prison before becoming eligible to apply to the Parole Board for early release on licence. Under the terms of the extended sentence, release is not automatic and is granted only if the Parole Board determines that the offender no longer poses a danger to the public, with supervision continuing throughout the remainder of the term and the five-year extended licence period.
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