In 2019, the Offender Database recorded that Richard Gethin Williams, then 57, of Llain y Maen, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd, was sentenced for the systematic internet abuse and grooming of a vulnerable boy. On Thursday, 4 July 2019, Williams appeared at Caernarfon Crown Court, where he was handed a custodial sentence of two and a half years.
The investigation established that in January 2017, Williams targeted a boy residing in a residential school in the south of England, approximately 250 miles away from his home in Wales. The “perverted” abuse included grooming and sexual activity over the internet, with one recorded video session lasting six and a half hours. The alert was raised by school staff, leading North Wales Police to search Williams’ home in Blaenau Ffestiniog, where they discovered screenshots of the video calls, intimate photographs of the victim, and four charges’ worth of indecent images of children.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Williams had a “perverted sexual need” that drove him to exploit a child who was already in a vulnerable state. Caernarfon Crown Court heard that in addition to the child abuse material, the defendant possessed extreme pornography involving bestiality. Judge Huw Rees noted that the custodial term was necessary to protect the public and children specifically from predators who “take advantage” of digital distance to commit crimes in Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd.
The judge noted that the severity of the six-and-a-half-hour session illustrated the “entrenched” nature of the defendant’s predatory behaviour. For his actions in Blaenau Ffestiniog, Williams admitted to inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, making indecent images, and possessing extreme porn. The prosecution, led by James Coutts, highlighted that the discovery of the incriminating computer images was vital in securing a swift guilty plea from the defendant.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his crimes in Wales, Richard Gethin Williams was handed:
- Custodial Sentence: Two and a half years in prison.
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements are now in effect indefinitely.
- SHPO: An indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Caernarfon Crown Court following guilty pleas to six counts.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Williams is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by North Wales Police and the Probation Service. Due to the nature of the internet sexual abuse and the long-distance grooming targeting a child in Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd, his management is subject to the highest level of oversight by the Public Protection Unit.
As a registered sex offender, Williams must comply with notification requirements regarding his residence at Llain y Maen, Blaenau Ffestiniog, for the rest of his life. Authorities state that his indefinite SHPO is a vital tool for monitoring his internet usage and preventing any future contact with vulnerable minors. Any breach of his registration conditions, the SHPO, or his future licence terms upon release will result in immediate arrest and a return to Caernarfon Crown Court.
If you or anyone you know has been affected by the individuals highlighted on this website, please report them to the Police on 101 (999 in an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details on reporting a crime. You can also report to Crimestoppers if you wish to remain completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.